Chapter 12

1. Sri Narada said, Parama Bhagavata devotee Sri Prahlada, the ocean of mercy and the Guru of master yogis when thus enlightened his comrades many of them felt themselves blessed.

2-3. But some of them got themselves frightened and went to Hiranyakashipu, the king and reported him thus: “O emperor, your son Prahlada taught us that we should meditate upon Sri Hari, the Supreme Who is the Bestower of Mukti (emancipation). Likewise many lessons are given to us by him. We are afraid of you so we have come to report this to you.”

4-6. Soon Hiranyakashipu heard their words he raised to a great anger and through the cooks administered poison to Prahalda, the innocent boy. But that deadful poison could not do any harm to Sri Prahlada, an exalted devotee of Sri Hari. Being ordered by the king the Brahmin cooks mixed deadful poison with the food and offered it to Sri Prahlada, the exalted devotee of Sri Hari. Whatever Prahlada used to take he first offered it to Lord Vishnu and as he was the Prayatarnanu dovetailed in contemplation of Lord Vishnu, the Lord at once made the poison as Amrita, nectar.

7-8. O Glorious Rishi Shanaka, Bhagavan Sri Hari protected. His exalted devotee Sri Prahlada from the affect of that deadful poison. As mother ever looks for the protection of her affectionate child so did the Lord for Prahlada. One who always without any interruption remembers Sri Hari and never is in body-concern, for such a devotee poison becomes nectar therefore what harm poison can do to him?

9-10. Hiranyakashipu, the king of the Asuras, saw Prahlada ate up that poison-mixed food but nothing could happen to him; so the king himself became so perturbed that as if the poison had acted upon him. Hiranyakashipu could not believe that after taking that poison anybody could servive; so he was nder-strickened but he did not know that for Sri Prahlada there was the Supreme Protector Who is the Omniscient Lord.

11-12. Yet Hiranyakashipu being blinded by terrible anger called for the priests and ordered them, ‘Re re, the mean- minded Brahmans today you all will be my prey killed by my sword, because when I was going to kill him (Prahlada) by chopping his head with my sword you all protected him. Now I realise you all are the liers therefore first I shall kill you all and then Prahlada.

13-14. Observing the king in that angry mood they extolled his glories and tried to pacify him so saying, ‘O the king of the kings, we shall see that Prahlada is soon killed by our spell. Today we already paid our oblations into the fire and as a result we have received such a mystic power that you will soon find when we exercise it against Prahlada.

15-20. When thus the tantrika Brahmins assured him, the king ordered them to return to their place and exercise their spell against Prahlada. They took Sri Prahlada to a lonely place but they did not know the super-natural power of Sri Prahlada. They said to him, ‘Oh the most fortunate prince, we have observed your extra-ordinary power through which you could overcome the death from fire, weapons, poisonous snakes etc. The king has ordered us to kill you. But we are Brahmanas and you are a devotee of our worshippable Lord Sri Narayana, the Spouse of Sri Lakshmidevi. On that account we hesitated to carry out the orders of the king that you might have noticed. Again we are afraid of the notorious king Hiranyahashipu because he never can tolerate to hear the praise of Sri Hari whereas you being an ardent devotee never can give up Hari-Bhajan. Therefore we are at a dilemma. We firmly believe that all the executions by the daityas to kill you will be ineffective to you, you being a true Vaishnava, protected by God Himself. And no power can act against you except the curse of holy Brahmanas. Therefore the king called on us. Shrewd politician Hiranyakashipu now have realised the extra-ordinary power of the Brahmanas and therefore he has specially called on us. And now no more we can neglect his command.

21-12. Alas, we, though Brahmins, have become slaves to the king having eaten his rice otherwise how we can so cruelly, in obeying the command of the king be ready to kill you, an exalted soul. Fie unto us, the slaves of the king! Dear son, we cannot go against the order of the king no doubt yet there is only one means to save you, that is, you should discard Sri Hari by scolding Him just in front of your father and also at the sametime make your apologise to your father craving his mercy.

23-25. You may keep in your heart secretly your devotion to Sri Hari. And that is also good, never speak a word about Sri Hari. It is better you should follow your father. Further, if you do not become annoyed with us then we may give you another advice for your good. You are born in the race of the Daitya and that too a prince of the king of the kings. Your body is as hard as the thunderbolt, you are very very intelligent, nay, all the good dispositions of a king are possessed by you. Dear Prahlada, listen to our advice, when your father is antagonistic to Sri Hari, at this age when you have to depend upon your father you better should not take recourse to devotion to Sri Hari.”

26-29. The exalted dovotee Sri Prahlada on hearing these mischievous words of the perversed Brahmins uttered, ‘Alas, what a mischievous way maya acts?’ So saying he indifferently looked towards the sky and remained silence for sometime. He could not imagine that such words could come out from the mouth of the Brahmins. So much he was astonished that for quite sometime he remained without winking of his eyes. Next, turning his head upwards them simply shook his head. He then said, ‘O the respected Brahmins, should one wait upto a particular age for doing Hari Bhajan? What good lesson have you deriven from studying Vedadta [Vedanta]? Such imprudent words do more you should pronounce. I cannot tolerate such blasphemy. I look upon the Brahmins as my guru. These loose and erevient talks are uncalled for from you, the Brahmins.

30-32. Alas, even the learned Brahmins when puffed up with their vanity run after the material wealth there is no wonder for them to pronounce such imprudent words. nay even the great philosopher Brahmins are thus bilinguated. Alas, such advice of giving up Hari-Bhajan for the present you give to me 1 hope out of your over-due affection towards me, your disciple’. But O respected Brahmins, for a man who is scorched in the forest-fire of worldiness when by providence realises Sri Hari as the ocean not only to extinguish the fire but to make himself blissful then how the age or the time becomes the factor for taking recoure to Sri Hari?

35. When an engrossed jiva realises that the triple afflictions such as Adhyatmika, Adhidaivika and Adhibhautika can be eradicated only by taking recourse to Sri Hari, the Ocean of Bliss then how he can wait for a particular age or time for taking shelter at the Blissful Lotus Feet of Sri Hari?

35-35. No doubt, for the performance of a Yajna one has to wait for an auspicious moment. Accordingly for offering charity or for muttering Vedic hymns one has to look for a particular time. But for devotion to Sri Hari, the Allblissful Supreme Godhead if any one considers otherwise like ‘wait for a while’ then surely he will miss the bus. Those who are really wise endowed with intuitive wisdom they from the very birch and till death does not come to them, will devote themselves to Sri Hari. By chance due to some calamity even if for a moment they are deprived from culturing Hari-bhajan then they feel themselves void of life and lament like a fish out of water.

86-37. A beast whose throat has become dried up due to extreme thirst when gets the water to drink how can he wait any more without drinking that water, so also a man of wisdom who is quite aware of the untold suffering of the worldliness how can it be at all possible for him to prevent himself from doing Hari Bhajan even for a moment? Those who are really devoted to Sri Hari they constantly sing the Glory of Him by engaging their tongue, mind ever engaged in contemplating Him and all other senses are accordingly devoted to Him yet they feel that they are not able to serve the Lord satisfactorily. They shed tears and lament, ‘alas, we spend our life in vain—we are not able to serve Sri Hari whole-heartedly, So humble are they whereas they have given their heart and soul to Him altogether.

38-39. O respected Brahmanas, Lord Sri Hari Who is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient, the only worshipable Lord for all, how can I forget Him out of fear from others? Is there anybody else who 8 can rule over others except Him? You should know that He alone has got the sovereignity over all including the lords. He is the Lord of all lords. It is the truth that fear-strickened and afflicted people should run to Sri Vishnu for protection, He being the final Resort for all. He is the real Father, and He is the Lord of the universe. It is He Who destroys the wicked and protects the holy and virtuous ones.

40. Due to your ignorancy about the efficacy of Hari-Bhajan you (O Brahmins) might have told me to give up Hari Bhajan. Yes, it is fact how you all will be knowing the glory of Hari Bhajan! It is only the exalted souls like Sri Shiva and Brahma etc. know the super-mundane value of Hari-Bhakti and therefore they are competent to give advice in this matter.

41. What is my mistake! I extolled All-auspicious Sri Narayana but unfortunately that made my father as well as you all provoked with anger against me. I do not find any reason of such provocation. Secondly why one should consider Sri Vishnu as an enemy? As the Chataka-bird lives only on drinking the water that falls from the cloud so also the engrossed jivas ever scorched in the trific [terrific?] affliction of worldliness should look forward for getting rid of the worldly suffering and quenching their thirst by singing the Divine Glories of Sri Hari and forthwith they should find that there is shower of Bliss which they can drink and feel solace and blissful.

42-43. Does your advice to me mean that only those who are old and diseased they only should worship Sri Vishnu? But such advice is unattainable, because at any moment death may snatch us away before the fulfilment of the hope. Alas, then one is undone. Having possessed this chancely obtained most valuable human birth if a man steeped in nescience and being tempted for ephemeral pleasures does not take recourse to Hari-Bhajan then, he although climbed the top of the ladder but accidently falls to the bottom of the ladder—he is undone.

44-45. An engrossed jiva possessing sound health when is not inclined to do Hari Bhajan how then he can have concentration upon Sri Hari Who is inconceivable even to the master yogis, during his falling health and old age? Now I shall be moving freely indulging in sense-pleasure as per the doctrine of the mind but when my senses will be worned out due to my old age or when I shall suffer from incurable diseases then I shall do Hari Bhajan—to consider this is nothing but to bring one’s own outright downfall and total ruination.

46. Brahmins who are the world-preceptors they should always look for the spiritual welfare of the mankind. They must not at any condition should ill-advice one against his spiritual welfare. Therefore, O Brahmins, your advice to me for giving up Hari Bhajan never can be accepted by me. Because your such advice is most unwholesome and therefore uncalled for.”

47. Those priest hearing all these words of Sri Prahlada instead of becoming composed were provoked with great anger and threatening him said, “Now you will be destroyed instantly by Kritya, a fire produced by our magic spell.”

48-51. Sri Prahlada, who was naturally devoted to the Brahmins with due respect said, “O respected Brahmanas, don’t misuse your divine treasure of Vedic learning by wrongful application. If one is to be killed there are many methods, then why you the Brahmins should misuse your power by creating evil-spirit like Kritya. Again, one who is destined to live, no weapon can dispose him off, therefore if he is destined to live, your such Kritya also will not be able to destroy him. When destiny works for one’s death then only your Kritya will be able to exercise its power against him. Leave aside your destructive Kirtya even the all-consuming fire of the world-dissolution cannot destroy one who is destined to survive. Yet if you so desire to kill me let it be done either by any other means. Brahmins should not misuse their Vedic learnings by creating a devil spirit which will be most reproachable for the Brahmana race.

52-55. But these Brahmanas whose minds were contaminated due to their pedantic vanity of Vedic learnings and who were at a loss their judgement they could not give any value to the most valuable utterances of the exalted soul Sri Prahlada. They of offered oblations into the fire wherefrom a gigantic figure came out known as Kritya. That Kritya began to grow more and more and roared. It seemed as if he was going to uproot the entire world and throw it into sky and at its roaring as it were, the entire constellations are falling down. That gigantic Kritya began to shake his locks at which the inhabitants of the spaceworld got frightened and ran away hither and thither. Therefore the Kritya otherwise came to be known as Ananta. He lifted his trident which was burning like devastating fire, noticing that, the gods began to speculate, whether time of world dessolution was approaching. They went to their preceptor (Brihaspati) to enquire about it.

56-59. When the Kritya began to move and as his very foot-step devastating fire broke out. It burnt everything there quite long time. The people of the capital felt extreme purturbation and ran to their emperor Hiranyakashipu for their relief. But soon those Brahmins directed the Kritya to wards Sri Prahlada. Atonce he attacked Sri Prahlada. with his that distructive all-consuming trident. But lo, as it were, even the all-consuming world-devastating fire is extinguished at the ocean of world-dissolution so also soon that burning trident touched the holy body of Sri Prahlada who was the very ocean of Hari-Bhakti-Rasa became pacified and noneffective.

60-68. As a burning stick when is thrown into a big fire it can no more be identified so also soon that trident fell on Sri Prahlada who could not be destroyed by the evil-spirit of the mighty Hiranyakashipu who exercised his all means to dispose him off, it vanished instantly. As when one gets Ishvara-sayujya no more his identity is tressed out likewise the trident when touched the body of Sri Prahlada in whom the Effulgence of Sri Vishnu was shining it lost itself therein. As a Brahmin who eats unwholesome food, as a pseudo-practicant muttering mantra, as to study the Vedas from a pedantic Vedic scholar without any austere life—all these are fruitless and non-effective so too that trident became non-effective against the exalted devotee Sri Prahlada. Nay, as the ellusion of Maya cannot approach a spiritually enlightened man of wisdom so too that horrible fire-born gignatic [gigantic?] Kritya could not approach Sri Prahlada. When that Kritya found that his that mighty trident became ineffective against Sri Prahlada and he himself could not harm him, it so happened that, as when a stone is thrown against a stone the throwing stone with its vehement force returns back so also that Kritya when could not exercise his power against Sri Prahlada it with greater anger rushed towards those Brahmanas. As when after the performance of Yajna if the priest is not amply rewarded, the curse thereof ruins the sacrifìcer so also that Kritya with its vehement anger ambressed those Brahmanas. At this they began to suffer the burning. Alas, they began so wail bitterly throwing away their garments and tiring the locks of their heads. They ran to Sri Prahlada with so crying, “O glorious boy Prahlada, we are at your mercy now, save us. You possess mysterious power. We so foolishly acted like a child with a whirling sword just to kill ourselves. We created this Kritya by offering oblation into the sacrificial fire to act against you but now we have become its target. We are gone”.

70-71. Hearing the wailling of those Brahmans the most kind- hearted Sri Prahlada felt pitty upon them. He treated it as the case of his own suffering. As sorrow is one’s mind’s affliction although every jiva desires to enjoy happiness that he himself could feel. Those exalted souls like Prahlada who although have gone beyond any sorrow and suffering yet their compassionate heart ever feel for the suffering of humanity.

72-72. Sri Narada continuing his speech said, ‘O the Brahmins (Saunaka and others) even the unsurmounting sorrows cannot create any perturbation in the mind of the exalted devotees like Sri Prahlada yet their compassionate heart feels for the little suffering for the mankind. Although the holy ones always very scrutinisingly judge before they act anything in their spiritual progressive life but their mercy folow unreservedly towards the destitutes indiscriminately without judging the merits of the destitutes.

74. Therefore for the protection of the Brahmanas from the wrath of that Kritya Sri Prahlada with folded palms began to pray the Supreme Lord Sri Narayana Who was Be-all and End-all to him.

77-77. He prayed: O Almighty Lord, if I have got any virtue in my humble rememberance of you, then O the Lord of the universe, kindly save these Brahmans from the burnt of this Kritya who is no doubt created by them through offering oblations into the sacrificial fire. O the Lord of all lords the jivas are created by you but some of them become pious and others impious. Now kindly save these Brahmins who are destitutes. The Vedas proclaim that Thou at the Omnipresent and Omnipotent God. That Thou may be proved now by giving protection by Those to these Brahmins who are scorched by the devastating fire of this Kritya.

78-79. Being thus supplicated by His exalted devotee Sri Prahlada Sri Narayana showed His Mercy unto those Brahmans by extaguishing [extinguishing?] that burning fire in the shape of the Kritya, Sri Hari, the Lord of the universe during the time of the creation of the universe empowered the fire with the consum- priveness whereas now by His Will the very fire became composed and lost all its power of consumption.

80-81. Now, soon the fire became ineffective the Kritya instantly vanished. The Brahmanas who were so for scorching in that fire now felt as if they were immersed in the ocean of Bliss. The Brahmans whole-heartedly blessed Sri Prahlada and next they approached king Hiranyakashipu and stood before him with their bowed head in great shame.

82. That crocked and mischievous Hiranyakashipu knowing everything felt remorse for how the distinctive Kritya became non-effective. He sent his men to bring Prahlada to him. Prahlada came there and as naturally being a devotee of God Vishnu humbly stood before the king. King Hiranyakashipu pretending as if he was pleased upon Prahlada, spoke to him thus:—

83-87. “Prahlada, your prowess is far-exceeding than any yonth. You know how to deal with may a. Darling the Brahmanas by this mystic power created the Kritya, fire-god but you could easily subdue it. Anyhow I am happy that thereby you have proved that the prowess of the Asuras is far surpassing than the prowess of the Brahmins. Your this act of subduing the power of the Brahmanas is most laudable. See, it is, because, you are born to me that is why this extraordinary power you possess. You will gain far more power if you follow our tradition and culture. You should know that I appointed these Brahmanas to create the Kritya just to make the world know that the prowess of the Asuras are far superior than that of the Vaishnavas, as the Brahmanas generally become devoted to Vishnu. We the mighty asuras are invincible against the weapons, snakes, fire, gigantic elephants, poison and Kirtya. Therefore you should lead your life accordingly like a perfect asura.”

88-90. The most intelligent Prahlada could easily realise the mischievous motive of Hiranyakashipu so he folding his palms and with sweetly, smilingly said, “O father, why should you play such a way with me. You are born in a glorious race. Do you not know that Supreme Godhead Sri Vishnu is beyond death? 1 hope, to study my mind you have spoken those words. Your grandfather is Sri Brahma who got his origin only from the Navel-lotus of Sri Vishnu. Therefore if you do not know Him then how others will know Him? O affectionate father, I must say that you should without any doubt know Omnipotency of Sri Vishnu. Knowing me unshakable and fearless due to my devotion to Him you sent snakes, administered poison to me, put fire on me and sent Kritya etc. You are glorious and must be affectionate towards your son that is why you applied all those above means against me thereby you have, no doubt, made me more firm and doubtless in believing the invincible prowess of Sri Vishnu.

91-94. You have created a fun by giving me the advice: “Give up Vishnu”. Father, you have sufficiently advanced in your experience whereas I am a mere lad; you have taught me a very essential lesson on the path of devotion to Sri Vishnu. Because you by sending all those evils made me to learn that one who steadfastly takes recourse to Sri Vishnu for him all those evils cannot create any harm. Therefore I found that by mere remembrance of Sri Vishnu when I could overcome such deadly evils then I am firm that at any peril of my life 1 never can give Him up.

95, 96. No doubt the gods of the heaven began to churn the milky-ocean with a view to obtaining Amritam but in course of churning they also obtained without any expectation many other things, accordingly those who are devoted to Sri Vishnu without any other motive except attaining Moksha but subsequently they also gain some super-phenomenal powers. Because every power rests in the Divine power. Divine Virtue is followed with all mundane as well as celestial virtues.

97. The practicants whose mind is still contaminated they alone feel proud when they possess these non-divine powers but the untinted exalted devotees of God Vishnu never look to them as any achievement. Such exalted devotees of Vishnu are satisfied when they attain the final beatitude of their lives as Indra, god of heaven was pleased when was offered Amrita by Lord Vishnu.

98-100. Therefore, O father, what need to speak more about this. You also have noticed that due to my devotion to Sri Vishnu even the mighty forces and the evil spirits could not create any harm to me. O father, now at least you have understood about the unthinkable Divine Glories of the Supreme Creator. Though you are not unaware of this yet you are pretending otherwise. O king, I know, you will not be happy to hear anything about Sri Vishnu, therefore 1 should not speak anything about Him before you. If you sincerely ask anything about Him then only I shall certainly speak about Him.

101-102. If a man talks but if that talk is not consonant with his heart then that speech is irrelevant and does not convey any proper meaning. As a creeper plucked out breaking its root cannot survive so also such heartless speech. So any task which does not convey anything relating to God (Vishnu) is as good as rootless creeper. Principally atma (soul) is to be nurtured. One who is wise he always looks after the welfare of his soul and his every expression is in relation to atma- culture. Besides this every act in life is nothing but to annihilate the soul.

103-104. Therefore what should I say about your offence. One whose heart is polluted by the hypocricy and malice of Vishnu’s illusive maya what more offensive words he should pronounce. You are deluded by the illusive maya of Sri Vishnu and therefore your intellect is robed off due to your hypocritical and malicious heart. Yet steeped in nescience you in delusion speak, “I am greater than Vishnu”.

106-107. Father, One who is the Propeller and Sustainer of all beings whether sentient or non-sentient and Who is invincible how can people who are in the quagmire of maya worship Him? It is only those who have imbibed intuitive wisdom and thereby steadfastly devoted to Him they alone easily attain Him. Devotees by dint of their unalloyed devotion can conquer Him. O father, to you my these words may not be welcomed, yet I have spoken them, because anything spoken about Vishnu is naturally conducive to bring welfare of one’s soul. But if you cannot tolerate to hear them then better 1 should not speak any more before you in this respect.

108. As the exalted holy men do not go to the house of the unchaste and unholy householder, so also I know that these most potential divine talks could not approach the malicious and hypocritical heart of yours”.

109-119. As the snake when drinks milk, becomes more poisonous, so also on listening to those nectar-pouring words of Sri Prahlada Hiranyakashipu became more furious and he was raised to such a great anger that he began to tremble with vehement rage. Alas he was bitten by the snake of illusion. He was so much overpowered by the heart’s enemy, the anger, that no good disposition could prevail upon his heart. A Vaishnava who has no enemy and who is not envied by anybody else yet Hiranyakashipu became restless with the thought how to kill Sri Prahlada.’

111-113. Hiranyakashipu who was then seated on his high throne at a top floor of his multi-storied palace, from there he threw Prahlada down with a great force. Though Sri Prahlada was thrown from the top of that sky-touching palace, but Sri Prahlada was absorbed in deep thinking of Lord Sri Narayana devoting himself in Him. Therefore He had no feeling of his body. He became soul-concerned and was immersed in the Bliss. He transcended himself from his body-concern. So how could he know the sufferings of the body, nay, he did not know where and how his body remained then.

114-117. Vayu-god himself proudly took hold of his body feeling himself blessed to touch the holy body of Sri Prahlada, an exalted devotee of the Almighty God Sri Hari. So as if Sri Prahlada was lifted down with all care and here the mother earth feeling herself equally blessed to have Sri Prahlada, an exalted devotee of Sri Narayana, Lord of the universe, so she as it were, ran to receive him. Ah, goddess earth who was lifted from the bottom of the ocean by Sri Vishnu during His Adi-Varaha Incarnation, now she taking her goddess from held Sri Prahlada, a devotee of her God, like a mother who most affectionately holds her child in her bosom. Now providing him all comforts she with her all affection towards Sri Prahlada, a steadfast devotee of Sri Vsshnu, addressed him with all her virtues.