Chapter 13

1-2. Mother earth said, “O darling Prahlada, you are the most blessed soul, I am mother earth, I have personally appeared having felt myself honoured by holding you on my lap. Before your body touched the earth I caught hold of you by my arms. That glorious God Who lifted me up from the bottom of the ocean, He has given you all the protection, my child. Ah, it is only by dint of a great good luck one may have the Darsana of such an exalted soul as thou art, and thereby the purpose of the eyes, becomes fruitful, accordingly the body becomes glorified by touching thee, the tongue is amply rewarded by singing the praises. It is really by providence only one can get such an opportunity to meet an exalted devotee of Lord Sri Hari. Yet to meet a Parama- bagavata devotee is a rare chance.

3-6. No doubt thousands of holy rivers are flowing over my bed but I do not feel myself so much blessed as when I chanced to touch the exalted devotees of Sri Hari because the holy rivers are once again polluted by the sins of the abominable characters. Today by the very touch of your holy body I am indeed supremely blessed. Previously by dint of the Divine touch of the God Incarnate Varahadeva I was abundantly strengthened but by the elapse of the yugas I gradually lost that. Today once again by having the touch of your holy body I feel jubilant and hallowed, therefore happily I sustain crores and crores of people. No doubt I give shelter to all beings but today I am rewarded with success, because the exalted Hari Bhaktas like you blessed me by their very presence on my bed. I am ever supported by Sri Anantadeva, why because 1 am blessed to have the devotees of Sri Hari like you play on my bed, the Srimurtis of Sri Vishnu are installed and worshipped here and also holy Tulasi plants are grown on my bed.

7-8. Ah, the entire human species are glorified due to the presence of an exalted Hari Bhakta as you are. Those who see you or touch you and those whom you graciously meet or allow to touch, nay, how fortunate are they—they all will ultimately attain the peaceful Abode of Sri Hari. Due to your presence on earth Sri Varna raja’s jurisdiction is restricted whereas Sri Vishnu’s glory is spreading because people who sing your glories and come to your personal contact they wash off their sins and possessing unstinted heart will attain the peaceful Abode of Sri Vishnu.

Kali, the repository of sins falls in a dilemma pondering how it will be possible for him to rule over the people so long as the glory of Sri Prahlada, an exalted Hari-Bhakta is spreading over the earth. How is it possible for me to extol the exploits of a Hari Bhakta? Nay, even those Divine Exploits of a Hari Bhakta are beyond the realisation of Sri Brahma. It is the fact that as the Transcendental characteristics of Sri Bhagawan are known to His devotees only, so also mystic characteristic of a Parama Bhagavata devotee is known to Bhagawan alone.

11-12. Alas, such a fool is your father, he could not realise your invicible prowess. What more, even those who recall you in their memory they too become unconquearable. Then what more should we say about your invincible prowess. It is sure that your father does not know the super-natural prowess of a single-minded devotee of Sri Hari. See, people, having bathed in the feet-dust of the exalted devotees of Sri Hari become as strong as a thunderbolt by which they easily conquer the demons, ghosts, destiny, evil spirits and the physical and mental afflictions. They lead a way of life disposing off all the obstacles on their onward march.

13-14. Your father is incessontly [incessantly?] creating an ocean of sins in which ultimately he is going to be drowned. You are, as it were, the great fire easily capable of evaporating the entire water of that ocean of sins and although dwelling in his palace itself yet he is ignorant of it. Although your father is a most sinful person yet due to you, being his son he will not only get rid of his sins but also be blessed by God. Omnipotent God Himself will kill him and as it is stated that one who is killed by Sri Hari goes beyond the life of transmigration—therefore he may have that chance.

16. Dear Prahlada, only at the period of the world-dissolution I will have the chance to take shelter at the breast of the Lord and that will take place after a very long period; but 1 feel the presence of God and also blessed while you dwell on my bed. Alas, hundreds of daityas are rushing from all directions for destroying you by dashing you against the stone”.

Thus the goddess mother earth made her penegyric [panegyric?] to Sri Prahlada without the notice of others. Whereas Sri Prahlada out of his humility saluted her and delightfully praised her. Mother goddess earth while laking leave of him she time and again looked at him as if she were not able to part with him.

17. By then the mighty notorious daitya armies reached the spot but they were struck wonder when they saw Prahlada without least perturbation was seated on a mount of stone and there was no sign of any wound on his person.

19-20. They now could know that Prahlada would be possessing some super-natural power and considering themselves offenders, began to tremble out of fear. Even they could not speak a word; they hurriedly went to the king and reported to him that his execution could create no effect upon Prahlada. He was calmly sitting. At this news king Hiranyakashipu felt extreme restlessness. In a malancholy heart he felt his defeat. His mind was harbouring with the thought ‘who is this enemy who has come to me as my son? What actually this enemy wants to do in fulfilment of his design. How did he gain such invincible prowess? How can I conquer him now?

21. Further, by any means I make any compromise yet will he forgive me for my previous offences against him? I tried by all means to destroy him but everything became fruitless. Alas, what a heartrending perturbance do I suffer?

22-28. The wicked Hiranyakashipu when thus felt total dejection at heart at that time devil Shambara just to console him said, “Prabhu, what is there so seriously you are thinking. Order me. I shall certainly finish him off by my illusive spell that destroys even the gods of the heaven, then how long Prahlada will be able to stand against me? My illusive spell will dispose of the entire celestial prowess of Prahlada in no time”.

24-25. No doubt due to his spiritual power he could not be destroyed by weapons, poison and fire etc. It is true, fire cannot extinguish fire. Therefore it is only illusive spell that will certainly work against his spiritual power. The gods of the heaven stand on the strength of truth whereas we asuras always win over them hy creating illusive spell over them. Therefore when we are determind to destroy the enemy we must act upon our own demoniac will and there is no rule of law; no right or wrong. In every case if we consider the law of justice then we cannot destroy the enemy.

27-28. As the pigs delight at the dart’s pits so these darty words of Shambara were welcomed by Hiranyakashipu. Getting the concent of the king, Shambara touched the feet of the king and the king, embraced him. Sambara taking along with him thousands of daitya armies who all were experts in exercising the magic spell marched towards Prahlada. On approaching him he was wonder-stricken to see him sitting like an ocean of calmness. He was sitting on a mount of stone surrounded by a great number of people.

29-32. That notorious Shambara determined to kill Prahlada first drove out all other present there and next he created such an illusive spell that even the immortal beings cannot stand against it. But noticing that illusive spell created by Shambara Sri Prahlada, an exalted soul smilingly said, “O Shambara, alas, why have you taken recourse to this tamasic device? O daitya, no doubt, you are creating the illusive spell against me but it will be nulifìed in no time by the Vaishnavi maya because you have approached me with your malicious heart, anger and vanity, therefore, all these cann’t stand before the Vaishnavi (Divine) maya.” Pronouncing this much the exalted soul Prahlada entered into deep meditation contemplating in the core of his unstainted lotus heart upon the Supreme God Sri Hari, the Propeller of the universe.

33-68. Now fire-like-showers Shambara shot tridents, thunderbolt, spear, discuses and many other weapons against Prahlada, but the Lord Who was protecting Sri Prahlada created such spell that instead of falling upon Sri Prahlada those weapons actually began to fall upon Shambara himself. Shambara found his own illusive spells were acting against himself and he himself was meeting the untold sufferings from his own discharged weapons. So at once he fied away from the field along with his armies. But whichever direction they ran they were tormented by the fire-showerings. His army men began to wail. When this suffering of their’s came to the knowledge of Sri Prahlada, his compassionate heart prayed the Lord to forgive them. At once they found themselves free from that suffering.

89-40. Those asura-armies who all already lied down on the ground almost dead now by the nectar-pouring glance of Sri Prahlada got back their lives in their bodies. They jointly along with Shambara stood with their bowed head considering themselves as the great offenders before Sri Prahlada. And next they extolled Sri Prahlada and also pronounced curses against Hiranpakashipu, their king.

41-43. Next Shambara reported the matter to Hiranyakashipu who put himself into the horns of a dilemma. Yet the fool ridding on the horse of his mind full of rage was planning for the henious acts to destroy Sri Prahlada. Now he recalled the name of notorious Nishachara who was like whirlwind competent to dispose of Prahlada.

44-48. Just then a demoness with a great wail rushed towards Hiranyakashipu and soon fell at his feet. She prayed, ‘O lord, I am thy maid servant; I am the wife of demon Shoshaka. I am at a loss of my life; my husband met with his death soon he entered the body of Prahlada. Being your most obedient servant my husband even before you commissioned him as a burning fire entered the body of Prahlada intent to burn him outright but it so happened that as the water drops falling into the burning iron-rod get dried up so too my husband Shoshaka could not exist any more. Lord I understand in the very person of your son Prahlada some spirit remains. My husband who is although as poisonous as Kalakuta yet that spirit destroyed my husband instantly. That spirit is so powerful that it may easily destroy the mountain and dry up the ocean otherwise it would have not destroyed my husband.

49. This news once again crushed down the hope of Hiranyakashipu and once again he became bewildered. Yet he did not allow her to know his mind. He simply spoke to her consolation.

50-71. Without allowing others too to know his mind he ordered his men to send that fire of the race (Prahlada) to Guru’s residence. Accordingly they sent Prahlada to his Guru, Prahlada, a devotee possessing intuitive wisdom happily began to live there.

52. Hiranyakashipu entered into his chamber with deep sighs. His heart was rending, yet he could not give up his devilish desire of how to destroy his son Prahlada.

53. Many right thinking asuras approached the king and requested him, “O emperor, better you should accept your such a powerful son Prahlada and extend your affection But hearing these words he rebuked them.

54-55. How could this fool Hiranyakashipu whose days were within the finger-counts give heed to any good counsel? He planned a devilish idea and for giving action to that he commissioned the notorious asuras. He commanded them, “O daityas, tonight when that sinful Prahlada will be asleep you all tie him up with naga-pash and throw him into the deep sea.”

56. Getting this order from their king, those asuras went to Sri Prahlada and saw him in deep sleep; although he was not in sleep but in deep meditation, they saw him otherwise.

57-61. Sri Prahlada whose heart was illumined with the lustre of wisdom was ever conscious in his deep contemplation of the God but outwardly he was having deep and sound sleep. He was full of wisdom and equally his heart was enlarged with spiritual illumination but he was totally unconcerned with the outer world. He was totally free from any worldly bondage, therefore neither anger, thirst nor any other enemy of the heart could have any access into his heart. Such an exalted soul Sri Prahlada was tied up with the Nagapash by those Rakshasas. Those fools tied up Sri Prahlada with the rope of snakes (Nagas) but they did not know that Sri Prahlada was a devotee of Sri Vishnu Who rides on Garuda, the enemy of the snakes. Sri Prahlada, who was a devotee of Sri Narayana Who dwells on the bed of the ocean, was dropped into the ocean by those asuras. Next they placed number of hillocks on his body. They reported their this successful execution to the king. Hiranyakashipu hearing this news that Sri Prahlada was already drowned into the deep sea and 9 there was no chance to recover, rewarded them amply and proudly thought that his plan was successful.

62-64. As Sri Prahlada was shining with the fire of devotion so he calmly remained there in the ocean with his dazzling lustre of devotional fire. Seeing the duzzling effulgence of the spiritual body of Sri Prahlada, the aquatic animals such as crocodiles, sharks etc. remained far away from him. Sri Prahlada who was so much dovetailed in his meditation that actually he was floating in the ocean of Bliss, therefore how could he at all know that he was bound with the rope of snakes and drowned into the salt-ocean. Nay, if one sea enters into other sea then naturally the ocean gets its hightide, so also due to the presence of Sri Prahlada who was the very ocean of Nectarine Transcendental Bliss the ocean of the earth got its high-tide to its zenith.

65. As the divine enlightenment from the spiritual Guru lead the aspirant souls to the other shore of the world-ocean, so also the waves of the ocean threw away all those hillocks that were placed on the person of Sri Prahlada by those wicked asuras, but they actually remained like the hairs on the body without causing any heavy burden to Sri Prahlada and gradually afloated him to the shore.

66-70. The god of the ocean (Varuna) personally took care to bring ashore Sri Prahlada, an exalted devotee of Sri Vishnu, Who loves his devotee as His Own Self, and placing him on the shore Varuna brought most precious gems for giving presentation to him. Now knowing the Heart of Sri Narayana. Garuda, the Ride of the Lord hastened there and ate up all those snakes and thereby releasing Sri Prahlada from Nagapash soon resumed to his own place. Now the god of the ocean in his celestial form touched the feet of Sri Prahlada, an exalted devotee of Sri Hari, and prayed thus, “O glorious Prahlada, be gracious, I am the god of the sea present here. I have come to receive your blessings. Kindly bless me with your kind glance. Ah, as the full-moon disperses the darkness of the sky and earth, as the spiritual enlightenment disperses the nescience of one’s heart so also by your very birth you have removed the stigma of the asura race and you shine forth like a gem.

71-80. Soon Sri Prahlada, the exalted devotee of Sri Hari heard those words of pious Varuna, opened his eyes and with his humility saluted him and asked: Bho, celestial god, when did you come here? Varuna replied, “O the master Yogi, you could not know anything about the gravest offences that were committed by the daityas. O the exalted devotee of Lord Vishnu, today the daityas tied you up with the nagapash and threw you up into my bed (ocean). But when you were drowned into the ocean I was so much porturbed like one into whose mouth burning charcoal is put. Soon I carried you ashore and just now Garuda came and devouring all the snakes that were put as rope in tying you up forthwith returned to his place. O the illustrious devotee of Sri Hari, I crave for the association of the holy devotees of Sri Hari. Be gracious upon me. I know, as Lord Vishnu is worshippable to me equally you too are. Those who reverentially worship Lord Vishnu but do not treat His devotees accordingly they are ego-centric and they never can be the recipients of His unreserved grace. I know although you are not aspiring after anything, yet as my humble presentations I have brought these gems for you. It may be like waving light before the rising sun by a devotee. Though you are born in the race of asuras you have transcended all the asuric propensities and fully illumined with the lustre of un-adulterated devotion, therefore I have come to pay my homage to you. Nay, you are now to be venerated and worshipped by the entire universe. You are the very beacon to illustrate that birth is not the criterion to consider a devotee of God Sri Hari. He shines with his prestine glory everywhere whether he is born at the high or low birth. At all perils of your life Sri Vishnu protected you. As there is no second sun, so there is not a second such a single-minded devotee as your goodself. What more should I speak, having chanced myself to associate with you even for a while, I am amply blessed. This short conversation with you has so much enriched me with spiritual enlightenment that very rarely can be had jn the three worlds.”

81. Thus when the god of the ocean extolled the glories of Sri Narayana, Prahlada, an exalted devotee of Sri Hari felt ashamed to hear his own praise but at the same time got delighted to hear the glorifications of his Lord.

82-83. Sri Prahlada with great reverence accepted those gems offered by the god of the ocean so saying, ‘O honourable god you are really a noble-hearted and praiseworthy because my Lord Sri Vishnu is lying on your ocean-bed. The Omnipresent Lord Sri Narayana even after bringing the dissolution of the universe, when He alone remains, dwells on your oceanbed.

84-86. O the god of the ocean, I always crave to feast my eyes by having Blissful Darshan of my God but I meet Him only in my contemplating heart whereas you are meeting Him constantly. On this account you are indeed more fortunate. Kindly advise me accordingly so that I may have constant Darshana of my Lord.” So saying Sri Prahlada fell at the feet of the god of the ocean who at once with all possible humility lifted him up and said, ‘revered Prahlada, your excellence is above all, as Lord ever shines forth at your unstinted heart. Yet whenever you shall be yearning for His Sight before your eyes the Lord Who is ever subjugated to His exalted devotees at once will fulfil your desire without any doubt.” After paying his obeisance once again to Sri Prahlada the god of the ocean entered the ocean.

When the god of the ocean, in which all the rivers meet, left the place, Sri Prahlada at that solitude with a great yearning heart began to pray the Lord for His Darshana which is almost impossible for all except for the singleminded devotees.