The legend of Prahlad and his father Hiranyakashyap was first set out in the

The legend of Prahlad and his father Hiranyakashyap is a central narrative in Puranic literature, specifically associated with the Narasimha avatar of Lord Vishnu. While the story appears in multiple texts, it was first set out in detail in the Vishnu Purana, which is one of the oldest and most authoritative of the eighteen major Puranas [3]. The Vishnu Purana provides an extensive account of Prahlad's unwavering devotion to Vishnu despite the various tortures inflicted by his father, Hiranyakashyap [1]. Later texts like the Bhagavata Purana (Bhagwat Purana) expanded significantly on this legend, adding more emotional and philosophical depth to the Bhakti tradition [3]. The Agni Purana also summarizes these incarnations, including the Narasimha avatar that saved Prahlad. However, chronologically, the Vishnu Purana is recognized as the primary source where the narrative was first systematically established.

Sources

1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: The Guptas > Puranas and Ithihasas > p. 99
2. [3] https://archive.org/download/ShivaPurana/Vishnu%20Purana.pdf