Sages & Others

Prahlada

प्रह्लाद

The Righteous Daitya

Who was Prahlada?

Prahlada (प्रह्लाद): The Righteous Daitya, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. Chief of the Asuras and the one Daitya the epic holds up as a model of conduct, whose righteousness Indra came disguised as a Brahmana to learn and then asked for as a boon.

Quick Facts

Key facts about Prahlada
Sanskrit nameप्रह्लाद
Title / EpithetThe Righteous Daitya
FactionSages & Others
Key traitsTruthful, Unattached, Just, Serene
Notable relationshipsGrandson: Bali, Pupil and Despoiler: Indra, Slayer of His Father: Vishnu, Fellow Daitya: Namuchi
Featured in3 stories

About Prahlada

Chief of the Asuras and the one Daitya the epic holds up as a model of conduct, whose righteousness Indra came disguised as a Brahmana to learn and then asked for as a boon. When he granted it, Righteousness walked out of his body, and Truth, Good Deeds, Might and Prosperity followed after it into Indra. Bound and stripped of the three worlds, he told his conqueror that no person is the doer of anything, so grief had nothing in him to take hold of, and Indra worshipped him and went home.

In Their Words

I take no pride in my birth, and I never quarrel with those who are set over me.

Prahlada

Traits

  • Truthful
  • Unattached
  • Just
  • Serene

Story Appearances

2 further tales on this site name Prahlada, in canonical reading order.

Character Arc

  1. The VerdictRules for the Brahmana Sudhanwan against Virochana
  2. The DepartureRighteousness and all that follows her leave his body
  3. The Empty ChamberExplains to Indra why loss cannot reach him

Key Relationships

Places in Prahlada's Story

Drawn from the stories Prahlada appears in.

Others counted among the Sages & Others.