Shanda and âgavataPurâAmarka, sons of Shukra, had charge of the education of Prahlâda. He heard and learned whatever they had to say, but he inwardly did not like the teachings about mine and thine and about the transitory things of the world.
Once Hiranyakasipu placed Prahlâda on his lap and asked him -- "What do you consider to be righteous (_Sâdhu_)?"
Prahlâda replied: -- "Human souls enshrined in bodies are always distracted on account of false perceptions. O great Asura, I therefore consider it righteous to leave the house, which like a dark well causes the downfall of Âtmâ, in order to go to the forest and take the shelter of Vishnu."
Hiranyakasipu smiled and said: -- "It is thus that boys are spoiled by others. Take him back to the house of his teachers and let them see that Vaishnavas in disguise may not confound his Buddhi."
The teachers brought him to their house and asked him in gentle and sweet words: -- "Child, do not conceal any thing from us. We are your teachers. Tell us whether this perversity is spontaneous in you or whether it is acquired from others." Said Prahlâda: -- "I and others, this is mere false perception caused by the Mâyâ of Bhagavân. So salutations to Him. When Bhagavân becomes kind, it is then only that the difference-making perception of men disappears. As the iron moves of itself in the presence of a magnet, so the distraction in my Budhi, if you like to call it so, rises of itself in the presence of Vishnu."
"Get the cane," said one of the teachers, "This wicked boy will put us all to shame. He is a disgrace to his family. It is but meet to punish him. The Daityas are sandal trees and this boy is a thorn plant amongst them. Vishnu is the one for the extirpation of the sandal forest, and this boy is his handle."
They threatened Prahlâda in various ways and taught him Dharma, Artha and Kâma, and the different devices to subdue one's enemies. At last they thought Prahlâda had been well trained. So they took him to the king.
The king embraced the child and said "Prahlâda, my boy, you have been so long with your teachers. Tell me what you have learned, as the best of all."
Prahlâda replied: -- "Hearing of Vishnu, recital of His glory, constant remembrance of Him, attendance on Hari, His worship, adoration, service, and friendship, and offering oneself entirely to Him this is ninefold Bhakti. This Bhakti is to be offered to Vishnu and acted upon. This I deem to be the best teaching."