॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Sunday, 15 January 2023 VII.04 - Sage Narada introduces the magnificent character of Prahlada.
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Prahlada, spelt in the Srimad Bhagavatam as Prahrada (literally means one who has a splendid heart full of love, Parhlada means one who is greatly joyous and gives joy), is one of the greatest heroes of Sanatana Dharma. Born to the daitya/asura Hiranyakashipu, he is extolled as the greatest devotee of Bhagavan. We are introduced to him in this chapter.
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First things first. How did Brahma deal with the most outlandish, daring demand of a daitya to become immortal!? But actually, as it happens, whereas Hiranyakashipu calculated that whatever he would ask for would ensure he would not be killed by anyone, he did not articulate the request for immortality as such. He just demanded that under a most exhaustive list of circumstances from a long long list of foes, he would not be hurt or killed. Brahma was Brahma. He was able to see a loophole and worked out how Bhagavan would deal with Hiranyakashipu. So Brahma was glad to say, "Amen! Be that so! Your boon is granted!" He then went away with his retinue.
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Hiranyakashipu conquered everyone in the ten directions and the three worlds and brought all living entities, both gods and asuras, under his control. Becoming the master of all places, including the residence of Indra, whom he had driven out, he began enjoying life in great luxury and thus became mad. All the gods but Lord Viṣhṇu, Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva came under his control and began serving him, but despite all his material power, he was dissatisfied because he was always puffed up, proud of transgressing the Vedic injunctions. All the Brahmins were dissatisfied with him, and they cursed him with determination. Eventually, all the living entities within the universe, represented by the gods and sages, prayed to the Supreme Lord for relief from Hiranyakashipu’s rule.
The gods were most distressed. Narada catalogues all the sensual pleasures that Hiranyakashipu enjoyed, how he tormented the gods and sages, and how he sucked the life of the universe that he enjoyed so much. This became so unbearable that the god supplicated with hands raised upwards for mercy.
Then there appeared before them a transcendental sound vibration, emanating from a personality not visible to material eyes. The voice was as grave as the sound of a cloud, and it was very encouraging, driving away all fear. The voice spoke:
"Fear not, oh, learned ones! My devotees will always be under My protection. Hiranyakashipu's days are soon going to end. Anyone who transgresses like he has done every aspect of Dharma in an orgy of self-aggrandisement is soon going to meet with his end. His moment will come when he torments his son, the young boy Prahrada. Brahma's boons will be dealt with well. Fear not!" Narada said that after they had received the Lord's message through this disembodied voice, the celestials made prostrations and returned without any more fear, as they felt that the asura was as good as dead, now.
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Narada explains who is Prahrada. I found the shlokas most evocative. When we say that Prahrada is a true hero among Bhaktas, should we not know why he is so great? I have scanned the verses for reading. I give below the OCR scan of Swami Tapasyanandaji's translation. He uses the spelling, Prahlada.
The Character of Prahlada (29-46)
30-32. This Hiranyakashipu had four sons of extraordinary nature. Of these, Prahlada was noted for his great virtues. Devoted to the holy and the learned, exemplary in his conduct, truthful, and having mastery of the senses, he was as dear to all beings as their own selves, and everyone found in him his closest friend. He attended on the wise and holy men like a servant; he was loving to the poor and the afflicted like a parent; to his equals, he was like a brother; and he viewed his teachers as God Himself.
Though endowed with learning., wealth, beauty, noble birth etc., none of these swelled his ego or filled him with pride.
33. Being intensely aware of the transitoriness and hollowness of all enjoyments, Prahlada could remain unmoved in difficulties, free from the aspiration for any attainment in this world or the next, devoid of sexual desire, and established in the control of the senses, Prana, body and intellect. He was an asura without any of the qualities of asuras.
34. O King! The great qualities of Prahlada are extolled again and again by wise men. Just like the excellence of the Supreme Being, his virtues are remembered even to this day.
35. In assemblies for recitals on great and holy personages, even devas, the natural enemies of asuras, cite Prahlada, the asura, as a glorious example of a great personage. That being the case, men like you will surely appreciate his greatness.
36. All his numberless virtues noticed above do not exhaust his excellence, but are a mere indication of his indescribable greatness; for he was one whose mind naturally flowed towards the worshipful Vasudeva.
37. Even as a child, like one insensitive and dull, he evinced no interest in toys, as his mind was absorbed in the Lord. Like a man possessed by Krishna, his mind remained so absorbed in Him that he saw not the external world as we do.
38. As he was ever in the embrace of Govinda, he was like an automaton unconscious of his own physical activities like sitting, walking, eating, drinking, lying etc.
39. Sometimes he wept, his mind overpowered by the love of the Lord; sometimes he laughed, being reminded of His sportive actions; and sometimes he sang in great joy, his mind filled with the memory of His excellencies.
40. Sometimes he loudly chanted the names of the Lord; sometimes he danced about without any bashfulness; sometimes infilled with Him through imaginative identification, he would imitate the sportive actions of the Lord.
41. Sometimes, being steeped in the thrilling joy of Divine contact, he remained speechless in complete absorption, his hair standing on end and his half-closed eyes shedding tears stimulated by the inward bliss of unshakable love for the Lord.
42. He gave peace even to the minds of persons distressed on account of evil worldly associations by the spiritual joy he radiated-the joy which he derived from the service of the Lord, the same which he got for keeping the company of holy men devoid of any world. ly possessions.
43. O King! It was on this son of his, a devotee of the highest ex cellence and a truly great and fortunate soul, that Hiranyakashipu inflicted cruel tortures.
Yudhishthira said: 44. O great ascetic! I would like to hear from you why Hiranyakashipu practised cruelty on a son so noted for his purity and holiness.
45. Even loving parents are, no doubt, seen to threaten and reprimand their rebellious children to bring them around to the path of virtue, but no one behaves cruelly like an enemy even towards them.
46. O learned one! It is needless to say, therefore, that no parent will in the natural course practise such cruelty towards a son who is obedient, free from desire and hatred, and serves the parents as representatives of the Divine. How could a father, even though angry at his son, go to the extent of planning to kill him?
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
