श्रीनारद उवाच
पौरोहित्याय भगवान् वृतः काव्यः किलासुरैः ।
षण्डामर्कौ सुतौ तस्य दैत्यराजगृहान्तिके ॥ १ ॥
sri-naradah uvaca-the great saint Narada said; paurohityaya-to work as priest; bhagavan-the most powerful; vrtah-chosen; kavyah-Sukracarya; kila-indeed; asuraih-by the demons; sanda-amarkau-Sanda and Amarka; sutau-sons; tasya-of him; daitya-raja-of the King of the demons, Hiranyakasipu; grha-antike-near the residence.
The great saint Narada Muni said: The demons, headed by Hiranyakasipu, accepted Sukracarya as their priest for ritualistic ceremonies. Sukracarya's two sons, Sanda and Amarka, lived near Hiranyakasipu's palace.
The beginning of the life story of Prahlada is recounted as follows. Sukracarya became the priest of the atheists, especially Hiranyakasipu, and thus his two sons, Sanda and Amarka, resided near Hiranyakasipu's residence. Sukracarya should not have become the priest of Hiranyakasipu because Hiranyakasipu and his followers were all atheists. A brahmana should become the priest of a person interested in the advancement of spiritual culture. The very name Sukracarya, however, indicates a person interested in obtaining benefits for his sons and descendants, regardless of how the money comes. A real brahmana would not become a priest for atheistic men.