“Bhishma said, ’In this connection, O Yudhishthira, is cited the old narrative of a discourse between Prahlada and Indra.  The chief of the Daityas, viz., Prahlada, was unattached to all worldly objects.  His sins had been washed away.  Of respectable parentage, he was possessed of great learning.  Free from stupefaction and pride, ever observant of the quality of goodness, and devoted to various vows, he took praise and censure equally.  Possessed of self-restraint, he was then passing his time in an empty chamber.  Conversant with the origin and the destruction of all created objects, mobile and immobile, he was never angry with things that displeased him and never rejoiced at the accession of objects that were agreeable.  He cast an equal eye upon gold and a clump of earth.  Steadily engaged in study of the Soul and in acquiring Emancipation, and firm in knowledge, he had arrived at fixed conclusions in respect of truth.  Acquainted with what is supreme and what is not so among all things, omniscient and of universal sight, as he was seated one day in a solitary chamber with his senses under complete control, Sakra approached him, and desirous of awakening him, said these words, ’O king, I behold all those qualities permanently residing in thee by which a person wins the esteem of all.  Thy understanding seems to be like that of a child, free from attachment and aversion.  Thou knowest of the Soul.  What, thinkest thou, is the best means by which a knowledge of the Soul may be attained?  Thou art now bound in cords, fallen off from thy former position, brought under the sway of thy foes, and divested of prosperity.  Thy present circumstances are such as may well inspire grief.  Yet how is it, O Prahlada, that thou dost not indulge in grief?  Is this due, O son of Diti, to the acquisition of wisdom or is it on account of thy fortitude?  Behold thy calamities, O Prahlada, and yet thou seemest like one that is happy and tranquil.’  Thus urged by Indra, the chief of the Daityas, endued with determinate conclusions in respect of truth, replied unto the former in these sweet words indicative of great wisdom.’

“Prahlada said, ’He who is unacquainted with the origin and the destruction of all created objects, is, in consequence of such ignorance, stupefied.  He, however, who is conversant with these two things, is never stupefied.  All kinds of entities and non-entities come into being or cease in consequence of their own nature.  No kind of personal exertion is needed (for the production of such phenomena).[833] In the absence, therefore, of personal exertion, it is evident that no personal agent exists for the production of all this that we perceive.  But though (in reality) the person (or the chit) never does anything, yet (through the influence of Ignorance) a consciousness in respect of angry overspreads itself on it.  He who regards himself as the doer of acts good or bad, possesses a wisdom that is vitiated.  Such a person is, according to my judgment, unacquainted