Chapter XXXVII - Disorder and disquiet of the asura realm

Argument. As Prahlada was absorbed in Meditation, his dominions were infested by robbers for want of a Ruler, and the reign of terror.

Vasishtha said:—

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Prahlada the defeater of inimical hosts, was sitting in the said manner in divine meditation, and was absorbed in his entranced rapture, and undisturbed anaesthesia or insensibility for a long time.

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The soul reposing in its original state of unalterable ecstatis, made his body as immovable as a rock in painting or a figure carved on a stone (in bas relief).

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In this manner a long time passed upon his hybernation, when he was sitting in his house in a posture as unshaken as the firm Meru is fixed upon the earth.

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He was tried to be roused in vain, by the great Asuras of his palace;because his deadened mind remained deaf to their calls like a solid rock, and was as impassive as a perched grain to the showers of rain.

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Thus he remained intent upon his God, with his fixed and firm gaze for thousands of years; and continued as unmoved, as the carved sun upon a stone (or sundial).

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Having thus attained to the state of supreme bliss, the sight of infelicity disappeared from his view, as it is unknown to the supremely felicitous being. (So the Sruti: In Him there is all joy and no woe can appear before Him).

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During this time the whole circuit of his realm, was overspread by anarchy and oppression; as it reigns over the poor fishes.[20]

[20] (The analogy of matsya nyaya or piscine oppression, means the havoc which is committed on the race of fishes by their own kind, as also by all other piscivorous animals of earth and air, and tyranny of the strong over the weak).

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For after Hiranyakasipu was killed and his son had betaken himself to asceticism, there was no body left to rule over the realms of the Asura race.

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And as Prahlada was not to be roused from his slumber, by the solicitations of the Daitya chiefs, or the cries of his oppressed people:—

They said:—

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the enemies of the gods, were as sorry not to have their graceful lord among them; as the bees are aggrieved for want of the blooming lotus at night (when it is hid under its leafy branches).

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They found him as absorbed in his meditation, as when the world is drowned in deep sleep, after departure of the sun below the horizon.

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The sorrowful Daityas departed from his presence, and went away wherever they liked;they roved about at random, as they do in an ungoverned state.

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The infernal regions became in time the seat of anarchy and oppression; and the good and honest dealers bade adieu to it all at once.

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The houses of the weak were robbed by the strong, and the restraints of laws were set at naught;the people oppressed one another and robbed the women of their robes.

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There were crying and wailing of the people on all sides, and the houses were pulled down in the city; the houses and gardens were robbed and spoiled, and outlawry and rapacity spread all over the land.

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The Asuras were in deep sorrow, and their families were starving without food or fruits; there were disturbance and riot rising every where, and the face of the sky was darkened on all sides.

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They were derided by the younglings of the gods, and invaded by vile robbers and envious animals; the houses were robbed of their properties, and were laid waste and void.

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The Asura realm became a scene of horror, by lawless fighting for the wives and properties of others; and the wailings of those that were robbed of their wealth and wives, it made the scene seem as the reign of the dark Kali age, when the atrocious marauders are let loose to spread devastation all over the earth.