Prahlad Charitra

The ‘Prahlada-Charitra’ is the work of Hem Saraswati, a Pre Shankara  poet of Assamese literature. As revealed by the poet, the composition of  the book Prahlad Charitra is based on Vamana-Purana.The book is a compilation of one hundred padas (poems). But this narrative is missing in the present Vamana Purana. It can be derived that there was a Mahapurana entitled  Vamana Purana during the time of Hem Saraswati, which became extinct  later. The ‘Prahlad Charitra’ narrates the story of the father’s persecution of Prahlad, the supreme devotee of Hari, and his death at the hands of Vishnu’s incarnation of Narasimha. Here is a sample of poet’s expressions and language-

Krodhilek rajaye putra xuni bani .

Tulaat lagila jen prachanda agani.

It means the king became angry after hearing his son. As if there was a severe fire in cotton.