*SKANDHA VII. CHAP. 4-9.*
Hiranyakasipu had 4 sons. Of these Prahlada was great in his virtues. He
was respectful, well-behaved, truthful, self-controlled, friendly to all
beings, and great in his devotion. Even in his infancy, he gave up play
and constantly meditated on Vasudeva. The things of the world had no
relish for him. In the exuberance of devotional feelings, he sometimes
laughed, sometimes wept, sometimes sang and sometimes danced. At times
when the feelings were profound, he remained quiet with hair standing on
end while tears flowed down his cheeks.
Shanda and Amarka, sons of Shukra, had charge of the education of
Prahlada. He heard and learned whatever they had to say, but he inwardly
did not like the teachings about mine and thine and about the transitory
things of the world.
Once Hiranyakasipu placed Prahlada on his lap and asked him -- "What do
you consider to be righteous (_Sadhu_)?"
Prahlada replied: -- "Human souls enshrined in bodies are always
distracted on account of false perceptions. O great Asura, I therefore
consider it righteous to leave the house, which like a dark well causes
the downfall of Atma, in order to go to the forest and take the shelter
of Vishnu."
Hiranyakasipu smiled and said: -- "It is thus that boys are spoiled by
others. Take him back to the house of his teachers and let them see that
Vaishnavas in disguise may not confound his Buddhi."
The teachers brought him to their house and asked him in gentle and
sweet words: -- "Child, do not conceal any thing from us. We are your
teachers. Tell us whether this perversity is spontaneous in you or
whether it is acquired from others." Said Prahlada: -- "I and others,
this is mere false perception caused by the Maya of Bhagavan. So
salutations to Him. When Bhagavan becomes kind, it is then only that the
difference-making perception of men disappears. As the iron moves of
itself in the presence of a magnet, so the distraction in my Budhi, if
you like to call it so, rises of itself in the presence of Vishnu."
"Get the cane," said one of the teachers, "This wicked boy will put us
all to shame. He is a disgrace to his family. It is but meet to punish
him. The Daityas are sandal trees and this boy is a thorn plant amongst
them. Vishnu is the one for the extirpation of the sandal forest, and
this boy is his handle."
They threatened Prahlada in various ways and taught him Dharma, Artha
and Kama, and the different devices to subdue one's enemies. At last
they thought Prahlada had been well trained. So they took him to the
king.
The king embraced the child and said "Prahlada, my boy, you have been so
long with your teachers. Tell me what you have learned, as the best of
all."
Prahlada replied: -- "Hearing of Vishnu, recital of His glory, constant
remembrance of Him, attendance on Hari, His worship, adoration, service,
and friendship, and offering oneself entirely to Him this is ninefold
Bhakti. This Bhakti is to be offered to Vishnu and acted upon. This I
deem to be the best teaching."
Hiranyakasipu reproved the teachers in anger. They told him, it was
neither from themselves nor from any one else that Prahlada had these
teachings, but that they were spontaneous with him. The Asura king then
addressing his son said: -- "If you have not learned these things from
your teachings, whence could you have such a vicious inclination."
Prahlada replied: -- "Inclination for Vishnu does not come to the
Grihastha either from himself or from any other. One blind man cannot
lead another. It is the company of Mahatmas alone that can give such an
inclination."
Hiranyakasipu could bear it no longer. He threw down the child from his
embrace, and asked the Asuras to kill him at once or expel him. They
cried out "kill him, kill him," and struck the five year old child with
their spears. But Prahlada was deeply concentrated in Bhagavan, so he
felt not the spears at all. This put Hiranyakasipu in fear, and he
devised means to kill the boy.
He tried big elephants, venomous serpents, Tantric practices, throwing
down the child from the hills, enclosing him in cavities, poisoning,
starvation, cold, air, fire, water, but failed to kill his innocent son.
He then thought his end was near at hand and became melancholy. Shanda
and Amarka told him not to entertain fears, but to wait till Shukra
came. The king asked them to take charge of the boy once more. They
again commenced to teach him their sciences. One day the teachers left
the house on business. The boys were all engaged in play, and they
invited Prahlada into their midst. Prahlada took the opportunity to
instruct the boys. He explained to them in eloquent terms the
transitoriness of all joys and sorrows and the vanity of all worldly
attachments. He taught them the imperishable character of Atma, and
dilated on its relation to the body and the universe. He then preached
in glowing words friendliness to all beings and devotion to Bhagavan. He
then told the boys that he had learned these things himself from Narada.
The boys expressed wonder, for they knew Prahlada to have been always
under the tuition of Shanda and Amarka.
Prahlada informed them that when Hiranyakasipu had gone to the Mandara
mountain for prayer, the Devas attacked his kingdom, and Indra carried
away his wife. Prahlada was then in her womb. Narada kept
Hiranyakasipu's wife in his own Ashrama till he had taught to her, more
for the child in the womb than for the mother, the whole of Atma Vidya.
Prahlada again continued the discourse and impressed on his companions
in the most eloquent words, full of wisdom, the utility and nature of
devotion. (The original discourse will repay perusal).
The teachers returned and found the contagion of Vaishnavism had also
spread amongst other boys. They instantly reported the matter to
Hiranyakasipu. The king became all wrath and angry. He sent for
Prahlada. Prahlada approached him with all respect and humility. The
king thundered forth thus: -- "What makes thee so often disobey me, thou
vile enemy of thy own race? Dost thou not know that I will instantly put
thee to death? All Triloki dreads me and trembles when I am enraged. But
thou dost break my words without the least fear in thy mind."
"Father," said Prahlada, "Bhagavan is my only strength. He is not only
my strength, but also yours and that of the whole world. Look upon all
as your own self, father."
"Unfortunate that thou art", said Hiranyakasipu, "Tell me, who else is
there besides myself whom thou callest Bhagavan or Ishvara. Where is
he?" Said Prahlada, "He is everywhere."
"Why not then in this pillar?"
"Yes, I see him there."
"Well, let me sever your head from your body and see how your Hari can
preserve you."
So saying, Hiranyakasipu took sword in hand and violently struck the
pillar with his fist. A great noise was heard at the time, and the
fearful Nrisinha came out of the pillar, half man, half lion.
Hiranyakasipu with wonder saw He was neither man nor animal. Nrisinha
placed the Asura king on his thighs and tore him with His nails to
death. (For a description of Nrisinha and of the fight refer to the
original).
The Devas all collected and prayed to Him one after the other. But
Nrisinha was still in a rage and they dared not approach Him. Brahma at
last sent Prahlada to pacify Him.
Prahlada approached Him slowly and prostrated himself at His feet;
Nrisinha became full of tenderness and placed his hand on the head of
Prahlada. That divine touch removed all evil from Prahlada and illumined
his mind with Brahma Vidya. He then broke forth into a prayer, (perhaps
the most sublime in the Bhagavata Purana).