Chapter 8

1. Sri Narada said, when those Brahmanas asked him to enlighten them about Sri Phahlada he with great joy began to narrate. He said, ‘O dear complecent Brahmanas, listen about the eternal Glories of Sri Narayana Which are nectar- pouring.

2. During the Varaha-kalpa what glorious life was led by the exalted Paramabhagavata Prahlada that was fully illustrated by the glorious muni Parasara.

3. Bhagavan Sri Vishnu during each Kalpa does His same eternal Leeta of the respective Avataras along with His respective devotees. So, that Prahlsda-charita which took place in Padmakalpa that I shall be narrating to you.

4. The spiritual incident concerning an exalted devotee of God inspires my tongue to extol the Glories of Sri Hari; let me first of all salute that devotee.

5. One possessing this human birth with the perfect power of speech if does not engage his tongue in glorifying the Divine Exploits of Sri Hari he is undone, because although he was given the golden opportunity to climb the steps for attaining final beatitude in life he could not climb so.

6. One who intoxicatedly narrates or listens to the Nectarine Hari-leela constantly, attains the summum bonum of life—absolutely there rests no doubt.

7. On hearing the glorification of Sri Hari when a devotee gets spiritual perturbations in his person such a horripulation, hair-standing on their ends etc. that itself is the greatest armour to prevent any sin or impurliy to touch him.

8. On hearing the glorification of Sri Hari when devotee’s heart is melted giving vent to shedding profuse joyful tears—that itself eradicates totally from the heart the afflictions of maya viz. Ahyatmik, Adhibhautik and Adhidaivik.

9. Therefore O dear rishis, you all devoulty may listen to the wonderful glorious life of Sri Prahlada, an exalted Paramabhagavata devotee of Sri Hari.

10-11. In ancient time there was amighty Asura-king named Hiranyakashipu. The gods of the heaven today feel terror on hearing his name. The munis were so afraid that they could not revolt against his promulgation that no Vedic rites should be done within his kingdom. Therefore nowhere during his reign the munis could perform publicly any yajna or religious performances.

12. At his very challenge Indra, king of the heaven accepted his defeat and other gods hearing him approaching, left their heavenly abodes; all the celestials ran to a secluded place for their safety and actually they marvelled his prowess.

13. O dear Brahmins, though he was such a notorious asura but having been slain with the claws of Bhagawan Sri Narisimha he attained the Abode of God, that is the reward God gives to His exalted devotees only. The Jnanis (Abstruce monists) even do not get that. The jnanis can attain Brahmasayujya only and asuras those are killed at the Hands of Sri Hari, (Sri Krishna) they attain Iswar-sayujya, hut it was a rare case where Hiranyakashipu attained Parshadatva of God. [vide Bh. sk VII.]

14. Sri Prahlada, a staunch devotee of Sri Vishnu was born as a son of Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu had his mukti in his another two births.

15. Even before his birth viz. while he was in the womb of his mother, Sri Prahlada imbibed devotion to Sri Hari—that he could get due to the spiritual virtue he accumulated during his previous birth.

16. The mighty ocean is full of wild aquatic animals, yet the Gem that shines on the Breast of Sri Vishnu could be had from the ocean, so too the unstinted and exalted Paramabhagavata devotee Sri Prahlada began to grow at the asura clan which is surrounded by the wicked imprudent followers.

17. Child Sri Prahlada was growing like the moon shining forth with his unfliching devotion to the exalted Lord Sri Krishna, the Lord of three worlds viz. chit-jagat, jiva-jagat and mayic-jagat. In his very movement of life from the very childhood, one could easily notice the fervour of devotion that he accumulated from his previous life.

18. As by the muttering of secret Divine Name one gains siddhi as the potential seed when sowed and nurtured it spreads creepers alround, so too even the little boy Prahlada began to spread Vishnu Bhakti and he was shining with the illumination of Vishnu Bhakti.

19. As it was, Sri Prahlada was nurtured with the drink of the Nectar of Hari-Bhakti, so he extolled the glory of Hari- Bhakti by his every movement. Thus Bhakti and Bhakta both began to flourish.

20. Nay, Hari-Bhakti was the very breath af Sri Prahlada, his very walk of life was Hari-Bhakti, as the flower emits sweet fragrance, so too Sri Prahlada was spreading Hari- Bhakti. As mother nurtures her child with her breast-milk likewise Hari-Bhakti nurtured Sri Prahlada with the Nectar of intuitive wisdom.

21. Sri Krishna is the Kalpa-taru and Hari-Bhakti as creeper taking hold of Sri Krishna-Kalpataru grows without any iuterruption. When the creeper yields the gardener enjoys the fruits—so too Hari-Bhakti rewarded Sri Prahlada abundantly by bestowing Prema-fruits.

22. While this boy Prahlada was playing with his friends even when he cut jokes or otherwise any talk that he had he spoke to them all about Sri Krishna and nothing else. That became the very habit of the child Prahlada.

23. So that wonderful boy Prahlada during his boyhood got himself bathed in the showers of Hari-Bhakti and he was growing thereby like a kalpataru. His very face became the looking glass to exhibit the glory of Hari-Bhakti that was hidden in him.

24, 25. Once while Hiranyakashipu, the king of the asuras remaining surrounded by his queens saw Prahlada returning from his school, the king with great delight took him on his lap and smilingly said, ‘darling, you have become a pandita and your this mother feels proud of you. Now we all here want to know what best you have learnt from your preceptors.’

26. At this question Sri Prahlada who is an ardent devotee of Sri Vishnu from his very birth with a great delight said, ‘let me first salute Sri Govinda (Sri Vishnu), the only worshippable Lord in all the worlds and Who is the Enlivener of all souls.’

27. At this very remark of Prahlada about Vishnu Whom he considers his chosen enemy Hiranyakashipu, though felt at heart extremely annoyed, yet wanting to know the pulse of Prahlada exhibited as if he was very much pleased, so he smiled broadly.

28. Hiranyakashipu warmly folded him into his bosom and asked, ‘Tell me once again what you have learnt, my boy.’ Sri Prahlada smilingly, respected, “Govinda, Krishna”. But by his such utterance Hiranyakashipu thought that something was seriously wrong with Prahlada’s teachers.

29. He said, Prahlada before I became ruler no doubt the foolish Brahmanas used to recite Hari-Krishna Names but I prohibited it. Then how did you get this lesson’?

30. Sri Prahlada who possessed wonderful merit of patience and tolerance when heard this unwholesome utterance from his father he felt extremely perturbed. And he said ‘Alas, respected father, such bad words should not come from your mouth.’

31. Sri Krishna’s Name is the highest spiritual Mantra which when devoutly chanted endows oneself with all the material as well as celestial wealth, and this Name cuts asunder the very knots of worldly bondage. Therefore how one can imprudently think of it. This Krishna’s Name is the Root of all Divine Sounds and it makes oneself fearless and immortal.

32. The offence that is committed by caluminating Sri Krishna, the Supreme Godhead that cannot be got rid of even by taking ablution into the sacred waters of the Ganges. Therefore my humble prayer, for washing off that offence you should chant at least one hundred time Sri Krishna Nama with devout heart.

33. Alas, what great nescience prevails upon you; as a wooden female figure allures a man merely to deceive him so too the nescience puts you into the quagmire ultimately making the life will-o-the-wisp. Steeped in nescience one does not know the value of life.

34. Without the power supplied by Him none can open his eyes nor can breath; then if any one caluminates Him he himself thereby falls a victim.

35. You are my respectable father, yet I humbly request you for your spiritual good that although you Have committed offence but even now if you take recourse to him Who is the Graceful Lord of all, you will be washed of your sins.”

36. After hearing all these words now Hiranyakashipu, who maintains enmity with the gods gave way to violent anger and rebuked innocent Prahlada so saying, ‘You talkative, alas how do you so impudently speak before me.’

37. Thus speaking with his red eyes he looked in all directions and then shouted ‘Re the mighty asuras, kill at once the preceptors of this boy. They are hypocrite Brahmins, how can they do any good to my child. Better dispose them off.

38, 39. At once they went and presented both the preceptors with handcuff before the king. But those two preceptors were really learned so they could speak to Hiranyakashipu so addressing, ‘Bho the subduer of the gods, bho emperor, you may test us, you by your prowess have conquered several times the worlds. Therefore we are the little ones, no need to show your anger against us.

40. Hiranyakashipu checked himself and said, ‘fie unto you Brahmanas, Re vile wicked, how have you taught my child the hymns of Vishnu’.

41, 42. When Hiranyakashipu thus rebuked them they with a great remorse looked towards Prahlada, and Prahlada noticing all these spoke, ‘Father, you should not rebuke my preceptors. 1 am not taught all these by them. Sri Hari, the Lord of all the worlds most graciously enlightened me. Therefore they are not to be rebuked. What more, the learning that you have is also by His Grace only.

43. In the univere there can not exist any jiva who without the propelling of Sri Hari can speak, or drink or do any activity or even breathe.

44. This is not childish opinion. 1 speak on the authority of the literature. Therefore once again I humbly request, kindly do not pollute your heart with tamoguna. Before your this birth you too with devotion worshipped Sri Vishnu, otherwise you could not have this exalted position of king- ship.

45. Dear father, you are indeed showing your ungratefulness without devoting yourself to Sri Vishnu Who has bestowed upon you this rulership of three worlds.

46, 47. Alas, what more, the habit that once one imbibes, will be very difficult for him to modify later on. So what more should I speak to you. O father, let me go on my way in chanting God’s Name. It is said that even when one’s preceptor does accidentally put his hand in the mouth of a poisonous snake the pupil should prevent him. Therefore having such understanding I have advised you, but if you consider it impudent act on my part then kindly forgive me.’

48. So saying Sri Prahlada fell in prostration at the feet of his father. Noticing his son so compassionate Hiranyakashpu ordered his men to remove the handcuff of Sri Prahlada's preceptors.

49. Then he said, ‘Prahalada you are my son, It is not decent on your part to be so meek like a humble Brahmin. Those Brahmanas who are generally the votaries of Vishnu I hope, are secretly doing this conspiracy by giving you the lessons of Vishnu-bhakti.

50. Better you leave those idle hypocrite Brahmins; associating oneself with such idle ones one cannot achieve the goal. You yourself see, by making yourself associated with those idle ones you have totally lost the prowess that you generally should have, being born in such a mighty asura clan.

51. Association with respective ipersons who are having predominancy of particular guna that guna naturally will influence the person who associates with them. Therefore the wise for maintaining the tradition and culture of his clan should stay within the same environment.

52. Ye fool, when you were born to me, it was your duty to destroy those who support Vishnu, instead, you yourself have become a worshipper of Vishnu. Do you not feel ashamad for this misdeed?

53. I am the king of the three worlds; you are my son, but how do you consider that there is someone else to be worshipped? One who rides on the back of an elephant, he knows the elephant under his control.

54, 55. Hope, due to your childhood you do not know your dignity. You might have been illusioned by others. Darling hear from me about the philosophy of the world. There is no other person to lord over she universe. A hero enjoys the world. One who subdues the enemies and makes others to be at his mercy he is the lord and he is to be worshipped by all. Therefore I am the only person to be accounted as such. I have conquered all the three worlds and I am the lord there.

57. No doubt there is one who is known among the gods as Vishnu, and he is the leader of them. He possesses power of witchcraft like Shamvara of our asura race.

58. Give up your impudence and be proud of your puissance being born in my race. Ye, son of a lion-king you be jubilant and as your prey massacre the entire race of the gods.’

59-64. Hearing all these words Sri Prahlada, a man of intuitive wisdom with his folded palms thus spoke to his father, ‘Father, what you have spoken, to your estimation all those are correct. No doubt, you are a hero and the ruler of the three worlds; you have conquered all the three worlds and you are the lord of them. I do not under estimate you. You being the king therefore there is certain splendour of Sri Vishnu, in you. respected fater, but all these prowess, greatness, power and this kingship you possess is all due to the favour of Sri Vishnu, otherwise nobody can possess them. But 1 cannot approve your advice to me that I should give up the companionship of the holy Brahmins. This is not justifiably pronounced. O respectful father, kindly the complacent one who is steeped in nescience how can he get the light of wisdom. Therefore one who is in the quagmire of maya and who is fallen into the whirlpool of this samsara-ocean there is no other way out except taking recourse to the holy Brahmins who alone can show the light. One who due to his malice, and anger abandons the associaton of the holy Brahmins, who are the only source of our spiritual enlightenment, surely he foolishly destroys his vision of the eyes.

65. How can the wise give up the nectarine blissful association of the holy Brahmins? Accordingly, is it possible for such wise ones to remain in companionship of wicked ones who are to them like burning fire?

66. O respected father, no doubt Sri Vishnu is all-pervading, yet the holy Brahmins are indeed His very Personifications. Therefore how can I make myself undone being devoid of the companionship of the holy Brahmins?

From the cow’s milk ghee is prepared. Brahmins perform the yajna by offering that ghee into the fire of sacrifice in supplication to Sri Vishnu. Therefore cows and the Brahmins are to be treated as the representatives of God Vishnu. God Vishnu Who is the Sustainer of the universe rests in them with His Divine Splendour. There are eight species like cows and Brahmins in whom Divine puissance of the Supreme Lord Sri Vishnu shines forth. And even the gods without their blessings cannot remain in their respective positions. Therefore the Brahmins are far superior than the gods of the celestial worlds. How the wise will not pay due obeisance to such holy Brahmins?

67-70. The cows and the Brahmins are the wheels of the worldchariot. Brahmins and the cows are to be worshipped, saluted and carefully looked after because by their blessings only the world is sustained. Cows and Brahmins are exceptional benedectors of the world. By touching them, seeing them and praising them one can easily wash of his sins.

71. It is the fact that if the cows and holy Brahmins were not existing, then the sins that are growing by leaps and bounds by the indulgences of wicked fellows would have destroyed the world long long ago in the scorching fire of those sins.

72. The Brahmins are the panacea of the worldly disease. Therefore if one who is suffering in this affliction of worldly disease goes and surrenders to a holy Brahmin at once he will get the remedy by having thus panacea in the shape of spiritual enlightenment from him.

73. O respected father, it is only the Brahmins who constantly visualise the Supreme Divinity Sri Vishnu. Those who have not attained success in their sadhana how can they know the Supreme Truth.

74-75. Therefore for securing intuitive wisdom one must supplicate to Brahmins. O respected father, if one getting enlightenment does not endeavour for realising the Supreme Divinity Sri Vishnu and even does not feel for this his misfortune, he is no better than the dull-witted animals.”

76. Hearing all these words Hiranyakashipu rose into turbu- lant anger and although became impatient but with a false laugh spoke: ‘Ah, what a wonder! can it be ever possible that a cat makes panegyric to a rat or a peacock makes such panegyric to the snakes? How then my child Prahlada could extol the Brahmins? This is doubtlessly the indication of a very grave danger.

77. The fools even after gaining enormous wealth ever act as pamperers. My son is to be venerated by all, whereas those who should have supplicatsd to him instead have been worshipped by him—what a misfortune!

78. Ye fool, you although ever see in your own eyes my splendid wealth and prowess, ye impudently speak about Sri Hari. Alas, foolish crow many dwell in a grove of mango trees but it delights in sucking the bitter nimba- fruit.

79. Tell me who is that Vishnu worshipped by the Brahmins? We, the asuras feel it a disgrace to talk of that Vishnu Whom you consider as your worshippable Lord. Fie unto you.

80. Vishnu does not exist at all. Yet in such hallucination you speak so gloriously about him. Now what I say as it were, without threads you weave the cloth. Therefore you have become an insane lunatic.

81-82. Ye fool, you are building castles in the air. You are trying to smell that flower which does not exist at all. Don’t you know that worship of Vishu does not reward anything. That is a mere illusion. You are a child, so you impudently look for Vishnu but we, with our all intellect although search for him but he never is found. Such an intelligent person as I am, when 1 do not find him out how then can others trace him out?’

83. When Hiranyakashipu thus caluminated Sri Vishnu Sri Prahlada could not tolerate any more. Actually while his father was speaking he put his fingers into his ear-holes. He now fearlessly spoke to him so saying, ‘Father one who caluminates Sri Vishnu, the Supreme Monitor of all, whosoever he may be, even though respectable father, he must be silenced.

84, 85. Father, you are steeped in nescience. Many a time you were in bewilderment having fallen into the quagmire of samsar. You are an utopian king having totally lost your foresight. So at your impudence Vishnu’s Divine position is not at all shaken. The master yogis even cannot realise His Supreme Divinity, how then will you be able to know Him Who is practically inconceivable. He is known only when most fortunate one is bestowed with spiritual wisdom and his eyes are collyriumed with devotional insight. How can people who are steeped in nescience realise Him Who is beyond sense-perception although He is always gracious.

86. No doubt, unstinted heart may contemplate upon Him but generally people pollute their mind having malice, lust and ego. Therefore with such polluted mind how can they conceive Him Who is supper-mundane and transcendental?

87. Those expert wise men who strictly following the path of unalloyed devotion to Vishnu wash off the impurities of their hearts making it not having any attachment to any ephemeral objects and thereby in their unstinted heart may conceive Sri Vishnu. When Sri Vishnu finds them dovetailed in His service and have become unstinted He makes Himself visible before their devotional eyes. Therefore how can He be visible to you all who are blinded in the quagmire of maya?

Persons who are cherising in their hearts lust, anger infatuation, malice etc. if they could meet the Supreme Divinity Sri Vishnu, then why the exalted munis take to the path of austerities by making them totally abnegated from the enjoyment of the ephemeral pleasures of the world and why will they follow the path of steadfast devotion.

89-91. Father, I cannot foolishly say that I know Him in reality. One who has realised Him, knowing His all-pervasiveness and All-Blissful nature he will maintain no distinction between the friend and foe, any opposites of the worlds. He attains final beatitude in his life. No doubt I too desired to follow their footsteps, but although earnestly endeavouring yet could not know Him. Father, at times, I feel myself blessed being surcharged with His feeling but soon it is interrupted. I need not at present tell you about methods how to attain Him. Instead I should tell you about those obstacles which obscure the knowledge of knowing Him. Mainly malice brings the curtain to prevent to have His Vision.

92-93. Your heart is full of malice which actually is the hindrance to know the Divine Truth. A man who has covered his both the eyes with cloth how can he see anything of the world? It is only through the eye collyriumed with the spiritual vision can visualise the Supreme Divinity as and when the mortal eye is provided with some suitable glass, then only one can cast upon a gem. So if you were endowed with that devotional eye you could easily have the vision of Sri Vishnu, the Supreme Divinity.

94. Although His external potency maya created illusion for all jivas of the universe yet be has been given the chance to subjugate Him through unalloyed devotion to Him.

93. One who is not earnest to attain Him, Who is Blissful and easily supplicated, then he welcomes all sufferings in life and his life becomes will-o-the-wisp. He is reprochable by one and all. Fie unto him. He is undone.”

96, 97. Hiranyakashipu, who ever maintained enmity agaist the gods, on hearing these words of Sri Prahlada became extremely angry—his very face showed that. He began trembling out of anger. He rebuked Sri Prahlada in such a way as if he was discharging thunderbolts against him. It was just an expression of his malicious feeling against Sri Vishnu.

98. The dull-witted asura-king Hiranyakashipu ordered his men to drive away Prahlada. When such an exalted devotee Sri Prahlada was sent away from his capitai it actually worked to cut down the life span of Hiranyakashipu and he actually welcomed the doomsday.

99, 100. Hiranyakashipu with his terrible angry-mood and quivering lips looked towards the Brahmins, the preceptors of Prahlada and shouted, ‘Ye Brahmin-animals leave this place at once. This time somehow I excuse you. Go and most carefully teach my boy good lessons. That Brahmin felt it a mercy from asura-king, ‘It is your kindness’ so saying he left for his home. That stupid Brahmin was looking after how to please the asura-king and became quite avers to Sri Vishnu. People who are after pampering the corporeal body, they can go down the ladder and can do anything and everything for their selfish gain.