Chapter XLI - Installation of prahlada in his realm

Argument. Hari's Inauguration of Prahlada with blessings, and appointment of him to the Government.

Vasishtha said:—

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After Hari the receptacle of the three worlds, and observer of everything that passes in them; had spoken in the aforesaid manner in his lucid speech, shedding the coolness of moon beams:

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Prahlada became full blown in his body, and his eyes shone forth as blooming lotuses; he then spoke out with full possession of his mental powers.

Prahlada said:—

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Lord! I was much tired with very many state affairs, and in thinking about the weal and woe of my people. I have now found a little rest from my labour.

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It is by thy grace, my lord! that I am settled in myself; and whether I am in my trance or waking state, I enjoy the tranquillity of my mind at all times.

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I always see thee seated in my heart, with the clear sightedness of my mind; and it is by my good luck, that I have thee now in my presence and outside of it.

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I had been all this time, sitting without any thought in me; and was mixed up as air in air, in my mind's internal vision of thee.

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I was not affected by grief or dulness, nor infatuated by my zeal of asceticism or a wish of relinquishing my body (that I remained in my torpid trance).

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The One All being present in the mind, there is no room for any grief in it, at the loss of anything besides; nor can any care for the world, or caution of the body or life, or any fear of any kind, abide in his presence.

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It is simply by pure desire of holiness, rising spontaneously of itself in me; that I had been situated in my saintlike and holy state.

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Yes my Lord, I am disgusted with this world, and long to resign its cares; together with all the mutations of joy and grief, which rise alternate in the minds of the unenlightened.

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I do not think that our embodied state is subject to misery, and that our being freed from the bonds of the body is the cause of our release: it is worldliness that is a venomous viper in the bosom, and torments the ignorant only and not the sage. (Because it is mind and not the body, that is addicted to pleasure, and feels the stings of pain).

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It is the ignorant and not the learned, whose minds fluctuate with the thoughts, that this is pleasure and the other is pain, and that I have this and am in want of another. (The more they have, the more they crave).

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The ignorant man thinks himself, to be a person distinct from another; and so all living beings devoid of the knowledge of truth, entertain and exult in their egoistic thoughts.

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The erroneous idea that, such things are acceptable to me, and others are not so; serves only to delude the ignorant, and not the wise (who acquiesce to whatever occurs to them).

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All things being contained by and situated in my all-pervading spirit, how can we accept one and reject another thing, as distinct from and undesirable to the selfsame One? (Shall we desire only good from God, and not the evil also? Job).

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The whole universe whether real or unreal (or composed of its substantiality and vacuity), is a manifestation of Omniscience; we know not what is desirable or detestable in it to be accepted or rejected by us. (But must submit to the wise ordinance of providence).

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It is only by discrimination of the natures of the viewer and the view (i.e. of the subjective soul, and the objective world); and by reflecting the Supreme Soul in one's self, that the mind receives its rest and tranquillity.

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I was freed during my trance, of the consciousness of my being or not being, and of whatever is desirable or detestable to any one; and I continue also, in the same state of my mind even after I am awakened.

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This state being familiar to me, I see every thing in the spirit within myself; and I act according as it pleaseth thee. (I.e. not by mine but thy will).

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O lotus-eyed Hari! thou art adored in all the three worlds; wherefore it behoveth thee to receive my adoration also, offered in the proper form.

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Saying so, the lord of Danavas, presented his platter of presents (arghya) before the god, as the lord of hills pays his offerings to the full-moon. (This hill is the mount of moon rising, which is hailed and welcomed by it).

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He worshipped Hari first of all, together with his weapons and his Vehicle Garuda; and then he adored the bands of the gods and Apsaras that accompanied him and the three worlds contained in him.

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After he had done worshipping the lord of the worlds, with the worlds situated within and without him; the Lord of Laxmi spoke to him saying:—

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Rise, O lord of Danavas! and sit upon your throne, until I perform your inauguration this very moment.

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Hari then blew his panchajanya shell summoning the five races, of the gods, siddhas, sadhyas and men and Daityas, to attend at the ceremony.

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After this the lotus-eyed god placed him on the throne which he deserved, and whereon he caused him to sit as cloud rests on the summit of a mountain.

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Hari then caused him to make his sacred ablution, with the waters of the milky and other oceans; and those of the Ganges and other holy rivers, which were presented before him.

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All bodies of Brahmans and Rishis, and all groups of Siddhas and Vidyadharas; with the Loka-palas or regents of the quarters, attended and assisted at the ceremony.

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Then Hari the immeasurable Spirit, anointed the great Asura in the kingdom of the Daityas; and the Maruta winds lauded his praise, as they do the hymns of Hari in heaven.

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Then blessed by the gods and applauded by Asuras, Prahlada greeted them all in his turn; and was thus addressed at last by the slayer of Madhu—the demoniac Satan.

The lord said:—

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Do thou reign here as sole monarch, as long as the mount Meru stands on the earth, and the sun and moon shine in the sky; and be fraught with all praiseworthy virtues of thine own.

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Govern thy realm without any interested motive of thy own, and without showing any symptom of anger or fear on your part; but preserve your moderation and a tolerant spirit in all your affairs.

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May you never have any disquiet, in this realm of excellent soil and plenteous provisions; nor do you create any disturbance to the gods in heaven, or to men on earth below.

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Conduct yourself in your proper course at all events, which may occur to you at any time or place;and never allow yourself to be led astray, by the caprice of your mind or the freaks of fancy.

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Keep in mind your spiritual being, and abandon your egoism and selfish views altogether; and then by managing your affairs in one even tenor, both in your want and prosperity, you will evade all the vicissitudes of fortune.

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You have seen both the ways and dealings of this world, and measured also the immeasurable depth of spiritual knowledge. You know the state of every thing in every place, and require no advice of any body.

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As you are now perfectly devoid of your anger, passions and fears, there is no more any chance of further broils between the gods and Asuras, under your rule over them in future.

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No more will the tears of Asura females, wash the decorations on their faces; nor will the currents of rivers rise as high as lofty trees, with floods of tears from their weeping eyes.

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The cessation of hostilities between the gods and demons, will render the earth as quiet from this day, as the unruffled ocean after its churning by the Mandara mountain.

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The wives of the gods and demigods, will no more be led away in captivity by one another; but will rest fearless under the marital roofs of their husbands in future.

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Let thy expectations now rise from their dormancy, of many long nights of dismal darkness, and be crowned with success and prosperity; and do thou, O progeny of Danu! enjoy thy unconquerable royal fortune, as in the company of thy charming consort.