Chapter 9

1. Sri Narada said: ‘The attendant-asuras being instructed by king Hiranyakashipu took Prahlada to the residence of his preceptor. Prahlada became more devoted to God. The exalted devotee Prahlada began to learn different branches of learnings and now stepped to his adolescence.

2. Generally when one reaches his adolescent age he does not believe in any super-power and his mind goes to the bad propensities. But Sri Prahlada began to have ever-growing steadfast devotion at the Lotus Feet of Sri Krishna and accordingly non-attachment to the ephemeral enjoyments. Really it was an exception.

3. During his boy-hood when the faculties of his senses were quite immature he imbued unflinching devotion to God Vishnu and now at this stage of adolescent age when the faculties of his senses matured to their prime of youth he became fully dove-tailed in the contemplation of Sri Krishna.

4. He began most brilliantly shining with the effulgence of the moon of Divine Wisdom. This moon of Divine Wisdom is not having at any time any eclipse as the moon of the phenomenal world is affected, neither is it having any condition of reduction of the digits like the phenomenal moon. This moon of divine wisdom is so unstinted like the very purity and transcendence of God Himself. The moon of the sky does not shine all the time and even when it shines with its all the digits, it may get eclipsed. Whereas the moon of divine wisdom shines forth with all its effulgence at all times and never is it eclipsed. The moon of the sky sheds the alloy of the outerworld whereas the moon of the divine wisdom not only removly the afflictions of the heart but it saturates the heart with the flood of Bliss.

5. The preceptors of Sri Prahlada were extremely afraid of Hiranyakashipu: therefore they did not impart any lesson about God to Sri Prahlada but as providence smiled upon him Sri Hari Himself bestowed upon him the divine wisdom. Particularly Bhagavan stationed Himself in his unstinted heart, therefore where sun shines there needs no lamp to meet the object.

6. One who is fully ilumined with wisdom and also one who is so dull-brained that nothing enters into his brain to give any lesson to them is unjustifying. As one who suffers from no disease and one who is having incurable phthisis or cancer to give them medicene does not serve any purpose.

7. Once again, one day Asura-king Hiranyakashipu called for Prahlada. Sri Prahlada dwelling at the residence of his preceptors got more freedom to culture devotion and learnt vastly abont different branches of philosophy and became fully surcharged with overflowing devotion. He came and after making his prostration at the feet of his father stood before him. When the king said

8-10. ‘The lesson that you had from your preceptors how can it go waste? The fire may hide under the ashes, accordingly your intelligence was obscured but now I think due to the proper coaching given by your preceptors your intelligence shines forth. Dear gem of the asura-clan, O dispenser of the devatas, it is good to see that the ignorance that was prevailling during your boyhood now is removed and now you shine like a sun dispensing the mist of the sky. Dear darling, during my boyhood the Brahmins misguided me and made me prowessless as you were done. When I was grown up I could understand their stupidity and I equipped myself with proper learnings.

11. Now I find, you have understood your responsibility therefore I may rely upon you by giving greater responsibility of diplomatic affairs of the administration. And I shall feel happy to observe your ability of administration.

12-13. Dear darling, your preceptors too spoke high of you finding your skilfulness in learning the nitishastra, ethics and politics. Your erudition is so vast that your depth of knowledge is really laudable. For an expert ruler, he should observe through his both the eyes how to subdue the enemies, both the ears are to be engaged for listening about his son’s administrative capacity and the wounds of weapons due to the previous wars on his body are the shining gems.’

14. The exalted devotee Prahlada, who was fully composed in his mind when heard all these words from his father fearlessly but gently spoke.

15-17. ‘O king no doubt your those golden words are pleasing but you have not spoken a single word in glorification of God Vishnu. The Vishnavas do not give any value in the talks devoid of glorification of Vishnu. No doubt, we have to learn the lesson to become skilful but those lessons which are extolling the Glories of Sri Hari conducive to extinguish the fire of affliction of the illusive world are worthy to listen. Those speeches which extol the transcendental Glories of Sri Hari and Which bestow the highest blessings to the devout listeners whether they are coached with perfect linguistic style or with grammatical defects, the wise heartily welcome them and with rapt attention listen to them.

18-20. Father, the learnings which ultimately lead to be more entangled in the worldly way of life what real good it serves? What is the use to get the lesson from those literatures which make us averse to God and forgetful of the real function of the soul? By learning those ethics and politics which lead to more entanglement in worldly way of life what permanent good can one achieve? People who are already having tendency of enjoying the ephemeral pleasure if are added with the fuel to the fire of their enjoying propensity then are they not thrown to the deep ocean of the worldliness? Not to possess more properties of the world is better, because that may ultimately help him to look for attaining spiritual good in life because distressed persons one day may crave for the Grace of God. Therefore my humble request, dear father, do not spoil your brain indulging in too much politics. Does a man who possess a sound health become addicted to drugs?

21-23. As the mighty warriors always secure best weapons, so the wise consider that is the best weapon which cuts asunder the knots of the worldly bondage. And therefore the Shastra which enlightens us in destroying the quagmire of maya is to be learnt with all earnestness. The real treasure of life is the spiritual sadhana. This universe belongs to Sri Vishnu, so how there can be alternative means than the way which leads to the realisation of God?

24-27. When it is well-established that without the superintending of Vishnu nothing can exist whether sentient or non-sentient, then what else can be the object of our achievement and why should we endeavour for attaining anything else? Besides, to gain the worldly wealth one has to labour hard and again when it is lost it gives great sorrow. Does the worldly possessions give any permanent happiness? The wife, children, wealth are so ephemeral like the lightning flash. If they could be permanent assets then to yearn for them could be meaningful and if they could be the support of our life we would take their hold to cross over the worldly ocean. If anybody finds any importance In possessing them yet more ethical life will not lead to achieve any everlasting good. So instead of hankering after them better to render devotional service to Sri Narayana, the Lord of all virtues.

28. What more, if a man with good sense when renders devotional service to God Vishnu Who is the very Ocean of mercy, even with the prayer for matarial gains the Lord readily bestows upon him everything to his fulfilment such as faithful servants, maids, wealth, kingship besides yama, niyama, dhyana, contemplating, endurance and the intuitive wisdom which ultimately will lead him to the attainment of final beatitude of his life.

29-30. Father, the Omniscient Lord is to be worshipped in one’s unstinted heart. The Almighty Lord Who instanly creates, sustains and destroys the universe how can one cause any displeasure to Him? Can there be any man of good disposition who does not take recourse to that Lord Vishnu Who is the ocean of Bliss. Therefore those fortunate ones who are desirous to get rid of the afflictions of this life of transmigration should adhere to listening to the exploits of Sri Hari constantly and act accordingly to render devotional service to Him—there is no other means for attaining solace and happiness in life.’

31-32. Though these words of Sri Prahlada were nectrine blissful but on hearing them, as water put into the burning oil it enculfs with all fury, Hiranyakashipu rose into violent anger. As the owl cannot bear the sun-shine so too Hiranyakashipu could not bear even those most enlightening words on listening which a man of discriminating faculty certainly disperses his nescience.

33-36. He in that turbulent anger with his red burning eyes looked alround and then in thundering voice ordered his men, ‘kill at once this wretched boy with dreadful weapons. Let me see, how Hari can protect him. Let the fool now know the consequence of his devotion to Hari. Soon his body will be a feast to the crows, kanak-birds and vultures; On hearing about Hari from him my body is engulfed in burning flame—so-to-say. So, see before he pronouces a word about Hari let him be sent to the home of death.’

36. Soon this order was pronounced by the ruler the asuras present there at once raised there weapons and attacked Prahlada with their atorming outburst or rage. But Sri Prahlada as he was dove-tailed in Sri Narayana remained unperturbed. Yet they mercilessly began to torture him by assaulting him.

7-39. Sri Prahlada entered into deep contemplation of Sri Hari and it so happened that no weapon could touch his body, far to make him suffer even the least. The Almighty Lord Sri Hari without the notice of others actually bathed Sri Prahlada with showering the Nectar by touching every part of his body with His Blissful Lotus Palm. By the Grace of the Almighty God Prahlada’s body became as strong as thunder-bold and which prevented all the weapons to fall upon it. So their attacks were futile.

40-43. Hip hip hurrah, all glory to the devotees of God Sri Hari! Due to the unswerving devotion at the Lotus Feet of Sri Hari, Sri Prahlada was given all protection by Sri Hari Himself. The weapons that were used to assault him by the asuras, before they could touch his body were broken into pieces and like sparks were scattered hither and thither. Nay, even inevitable triple afflictions of maya viz, adhyatmik, adhibhautic and adhidaivik are afraid to approch an exalted devotee of God Sri Hari. Therefore how these weapons could do any harm to an exalted devotee of Sri Hari? As ice cannot rest with fire, darkness cannot exist where there is sunshine and snake cannot remain alive before the Garuda bird accordingly the weapons applied against an exalted devotee of Sri Hari cannot touch his body.

44-45. Absolutely there rests no fear for an exalted devotee of Sri Hari even from the lord of death from the drinking of deadly poison, from the evils of planets and nay, even when dissolution of the universe takes place. Therefore those asuras were most negligible like the mosquitos. What harm could they creat [create?] to Sri Prahlada? So log as one does not realise Sri Vishnu as the Monitor dwelling in one’s unstinted heart one is caused to suffer from various disseases, attack by the wicked, destiny and harmful planets.

46. O holy Brahmanas, that exalted Lord Sri Narayana, the God of all gods when is realised, there remains nothing more to be gained. One who has got such God-realisation what not has he conquered? When one has installed God Vishnu in his unstinted heart and realises His All-pervasiveness he himself becomes an object to be worshipped by all.

47-49. As the gale cannot shake the mighty Sumeru mountain so too all those asuras could not torment Sri Prahlada who was in deep contemplation on Sri Hari by their onslaughts, instead they themselves got wounded by their own weapons which fell on them in return: they left their execution. When they failed to kill Prahlada everyone whether good or bad was amazed. This news actully created fear in the mind of Hiranyakashipu.

50-52. From his very birth Hiranyakashipu did not know whether there was anything to be afraid of but this was the first instance that he got himself freightened. He in great awe-striken mood asked, ‘How this can happen’, so saying he became mum. His face indicated as if he is amidst the gravest danger. Yet as he was a perverse asura once again he began to plan how to execute death sentence to Sri Prahlada. A man who is in the quagmire of maya never can have a good lesson. His mind always works for evil acts and he can indulge in any wicked action.

53-69. When assaults by deadly weapons became futile Hiranyakashipu grew extremely anvious and resorted with pertinacity to various devices of killing him. Now he ordered his men to let loose the poisonous serpents around Prahlada so that they may bite him freely. Serpents ran towards Sri Prahlada with their raised hoods. They soon woured their dreadful poison by their bites but Sri Prahlada remained in deep contemplation when Sri Narayana resting on the back of Garuda stationed Himself in the unstainted heart of Sri Prahlada. The Lord gave an ablution to His exalted devotee Sri Prahlada with pouring holy waters from His conch. Thus Sri Prahlada was inundated into the ocean of Nectarine Bliss, therefore even the deadly poison could not do any harm to him, nay, how it could touch his body.

60. Now this attack by the poisonous serpents became futile. When the serpents recoiled Sri Prahlada’s sacred body O dear Brahmis, it appeared as it were, Sri Krishna was enacting His Kaliyadamana Leela at the Kaliya lake in the waters of Yamuna. It may be so, that Sri Prahlada too enjoyed the Nectarine Bliss in contemplation of that Kaliyadamana Leela of Sri Krishna.

61, 62. Those poisonous serpents to their might tried to bite Sri Prahlada but how could they inflict any wound in the holy person of Prahlada whose body was nurtured by Transcendental Nectar? Instead they got their teeth broken and their heads which were dazzling with gems got fractured and were profusely bleeding. Hundreds of eagles pounced upon them to have their feast delightfully. Only a few who remained alive somehow could run away.

63. O Brahmins, there is no wonder, this was an act of Sri Narayana to protect Sri Prahlada who was His ardent devotee. This very God protected Sri Markendeya Muni even when there was total dissolution of the universe. Even such an act on His part is nothing to be wondered because by His mere Will the creation of the entire universe takes place, what more.

65. Those serpents who could save themselves with their broken heads and profusely bleeding approached Hiranyakashipu and reported thus.

66. Worshippable king, no doubt you have conquered Indra, king of the heaven but we failed to execute your command, far to kill him, even we jointly could not inflict any wound in the body of Prahlada. O lord, alas, even lion fails to pounce upon a deer. O king your son has become invincible.

66, 69. O master, we could even make the entire waters of the seven seas poisonous or the high mountains burn into ashes but we failed to exercise any power against Prahlada. Therefore none can kill him except yourself. Your this son Prahlada is a great soul. When we became envious towards him many of us met death at the attack of Garuda birds. We could not know wherefrom so many Garuda birds came there? We who all could run away but we too lost our teeth. O king, we are most surprised that while we noticed him it appeared his body was as soft as the petals of the lotuses but soon we tried to inflict wounds on his body with our sharp teeth, we felt it as three times harder than the thunderbolt. Thus those serpents reported the matter to their king Hiranyakashipu and took leave of him. Hiranyakashipu with great anxiety pondered over how Prahlada could be so invincible and actually he got his heart broken.