King of Devas

Near the grand Asura king's palace, a fire pit blazed at its center, the flames of Vasuki, the Naga King, casting a fierce scarlet glow that illuminated the faces of Hiranyakashipu and Holika. The air shimmered with heat, radiating in oppressive waves, making it nearly unbearable.

Prahlada was flanked by a group of Asura warriors and brought into the grounds. The moment they entered, the suffocating heat hit them like a wave. Sweat streamed down their faces, and their breathing grew labored. Their bodies instinctively recoiled from the burning intensity of the flames.

Hiranyakashipu stood with his hands firmly planted on his waist, glaring at his son.

"Prahlada," he said, his voice cold as ice, "I give you one final chance. Never offer a single prayer to Vishnu again."

His eyes narrowed, filled with a merciless resolve. "If you forsake him, you can still be my son, the prince of Asuras."

He raised a hand and pointed at Prahlada with detached finality. There would be no place for Vishnu in his kingdom, and certainly not in his bloodline.

"Father!" Prahlada's voice rang out, filled with unwavering devotion. "The Lord is in all things. He is the sky, the ocean, the forest, the earth. He is everywhere. Every thought, every word, every deed we perform is a prayer to Him."

He smiled, the depth of his faith shining through his eyes. "I am His, and I will not forsake Him."

Hiranyakashipu's lips twisted into a bitter, mocking smile. "Heh. Let's see how far your faith will take you."

He turned toward Holika, his voice a thunderous command. "Holika!"

Holika, her expression as cold as ice, stepped forward with a sneer. Dressed in her divine veil, her eyes gleamed with malice.

"This is the flame of Vasuki," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "It can burn everything to ashes. I will enter the flames with you. If you can withstand them, if you are truly protected by your god, I will reconsider my stance. But if your god cannot save you, neither will we."

Her words were laced with venom, each syllable carrying the weight of her hatred.

Holika's hatred for Vasuki, the naga that had once disfigured her beautiful face, burned as fiercely as the flames surrounding them. And with that, her disdain for Vishnu and his followers only grew. The churning of Kshira Sagara had nearly cost her life; the time for retribution was now.

"Good!"

Prahlada nodded solemnly. His eyes, clear and unwavering, shone with conviction. He clasped his hands together in prayer and, with a calm resolve, walked slowly into the searing flames, chanting a prayer to Vishnu as he did.

Holika, standing by his side, sneered. She adjusted her hood with both hands and stepped into the inferno alongside him.

Now, it was time to test the power of her blessing.

Boom!

The flames of Vasuki roared to life, their heat intense enough to scorch the very air around them. The fire reached out hungrily, licking at Prahlada's bare feet, the flames leaving trails of burning scars in their wake. Yet, despite the pain, Prahlada's expression remained calm, his face an unwavering mask of serenity.

He continued forward, undeterred, until he reached the heart of the flames. There, he sat cross-legged, as if he were meditating in a peaceful palace, the fire surrounding him but never touching his soul.

Holika, her resolve unshaken, smiled to herself. With her veil securely in place and the blessing of protection upon her, she too sat in the heart of the flames, untouched by their fury.

The heat that scorched everything else was nothing to her. It felt almost like home. The flames? They didn't bother her at all.

…

The Vaikuntha lay adjacent to Kshira Sagara, a realm of serenity and divine presence. Vishnu, the protector of the world, rested on his side upon his snake bed. His wife, Lakshmi, sat beside him, gently massaging his calves with tender care. Their eyes met, and in that shared gaze, a silent love spoke volumes.

Suddenly, Vishnu turned his head ever so slightly, his smile fading as his gaze fixed upon the human world.

"Husband, what is it that occupies your thoughts?" Lakshmi inquired softly.

Vishnu's expression became solemn. "The karma of Hiranyakashipu has ripened, and the time of the Asuras' dominion is coming to an end. The cycle is complete, and it is now time for the final act of Lila to unfold"

He gently tapped the snake bed beneath him. With a subtle twist of his finger, a ray of golden light shot forth, directed toward the figure of Prahlada, who lingered in Vishnu's vision.

Meanwhile, in the palace below, Hiranyakashipu's cruel laughter echoed through the chambers.

Prahlada, caught in the merciless blaze of the snake fire, writhed in agony. His skin, scorched black, glowed with a fiery red hue, like smoldering embers. His flesh burned, and it seemed as though he would soon be consumed by the flames.

"Hahaha!" Hiranyakashipu laughed, his voice dripping with malice. "Son, look at you now. Your gods cannot protect you! If you renounce your faith, I will spare you. I, your father, will forgive you!" He laughed again, louder this time, savoring the moment.

A surge of victory swelled in his chest. He had defeated his son, broken his faith, and soon, he would have crushed Vishnu, the protector of the world.

But if Prahlada refused to relent...

Hiranyakashipu was ready to end his disobedient son's life.

"No!" Prahlada's voice rang out, strong despite his suffering.

Boom!

An explosion of light cut through the air, interrupting Hiranyakashipu's triumphant laughter.

"What?!" Hiranyakashipu gasped, his gaze snapping down to where Prahlada sat.

Golden rays poured from Prahlada's body, and in an instant, the blackened scars on her skin began to crumble away, as though the golden light was slicing through them like scissors. The fiery darkness that had engulfed him evaporated into ash, revealing flawless skin beneath.

But then, the golden light flickered and flared. It swept across Holika's veil, tearing through it with force, sending the fabric into countless shards that exploded into the air. The blessing was gone. The protection had failed.

Holika's eyes widened in horror.

"Impossible!" she screamed, her voice filled with disbelief.

The flames in her eyes flared once more, transforming into a host of serpents, their tongues flickering and their teeth bared. They rushed toward her, consuming her in a furious blaze, and with a final, ear-splitting roar, they reduced her to nothing but ash.

"Holika!"

Hiranyakashipu's voice thundered as he watched the fire rage even fiercer. He rushed forward, but as he passed through the flames, he felt nothing—only the empty weight of his hands, now covered in blackened ashes.

The flame flickered and died, its fiery embrace extinguished.

"Father..." Prahlada's voice was soft, tinged with sadness as he stood slowly, facing the man who had once been his father. There were no words to exchange.

His father had truly tried to kill him.

Boom!

Hiranyakashipu spun around suddenly, his body trembling with fury, his movements like a wild beast driven mad. His anger reached an unbearable peak.

His golden eyes flashed with bloodlust. His teeth ground together, his fists clenched so tightly that the air around him seemed to vibrate with the pressure.

"Vishnu!" he roared. "You dare mock me? Damn you! Damn you all!"

His eyes, now a deep crimson, burned with hatred as he glared at his son.

A mace materialized in his hand, dark and powerful. With a furious swing, he pointed it at Prahlada, the force of the wind swirling around it.

"You say Vishnu is omnipotent? Call upon your god! Let him use his divine power to bring Indra here! Bring him here!"

"Vishnu, Indra!" Hiranyakashipu's voice shook the very heavens. "I will kill them both today! I swear it! I will kill them!"

His roar echoed across the realms, rattling the Svargas and the earth beneath. The very air seemed to tremble with the violent force of his rage.

"Father," Prahlada's voice was calm but filled with sorrow. "Your anger blinds you. You cannot harm the divine, nor can you break my faith in Lord Vishnu. It is not too late for you to turn away from this path of hatred."

Hiranyakashipu's eyes darkened with an even deeper malice. "If you do not call him here, I will kill your mother."

Prahlada's gaze did not waver. "Lord Vishnu is everywhere. If you seek him, he will appear when the time is right. My faith protects all who are dear to me. Do as you will, Father. I fear nothing, for he is with me."

Hiranyakashipu's words were devoid of any warmth, his tone flat and cold. "Quickly!"

Prahlada shuddered under the weight of his father's threat. His eyes were wide, not just with fear, but with the recognition that his father—this monster before him—had truly lost his mind.

Could it be that his father would go so far?

"Good..." Prahlada's voice was shaky, the words barely escaping his lips. Slowly, he clasped his hands together, preparing to invoke the gods, torn between his love for his mother and the desperate hope that somehow, peace could still be found.

…

In the divine realm of Brahma, within the city of Amravati, Airavata lay submerged in the lake, his massive head lowered as though trying to hide from the world like an ostrich. The great elephant was completely still, as though paralyzed by a deep sense of reluctance. Surrounding him were the revered Rishi Brihaspati and the Devas, their eyes filled with concern.

"Airavata!"

Rishi Brihaspati's voice broke the silence, stern but gentle. "It's your turn. The human world needs you!"

The mighty elephant let out a faint, sorrowful sound but did not respond.

Vayu, ever energetic, squatted at the water's edge, his voice teasing but firm. "Holy Airavata, you are still so young! How can you be so lazy now?"

With a sudden ripple, the surface of the lake stirred, and from beneath the water, the slender trunk of Airavata emerged. He let out a long, drawn-out cry, filled with grievance.

At the sound, Varuna, the god of the oceans, shook his head, his expression both bemused and concerned.

"Being a god isn't meant to be tiring," Varuna said, spreading his hands wide in an attempt to comfort the great beast. "You're not just taking the place of the King of Svarga. Think of how honored you are—how respected! We look up to you as much as we do to Indra, our King of Svarga!"

Airavata's six tusks gleamed in the sunlight as he let out a deep, frustrated roar. The Devas' words seemed to have no effect. Without so much as a glance in their direction, he dove back into the lake with a final splash, leaving the gods helpless and dismayed.

"The Airavata has used all his energy!" Surya exclaimed, his voice filled with confusion. "What do we do now?"

Surya's gaze turned to Rishi Brihaspati, seeking direction.

Rishi Brihaspati paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing in thought. Then, with a firm nod, he made a decision.

"We can only wake up Indra now." He turned to Vayu, a spark of determination in his voice. "Vayu, go summon the three most beautiful Apsaras. I'll handle the rest."

Vayu's eyes lit up with excitement at the challenge.

"Good!" he exclaimed, already turning to fulfill his task.

---

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