||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 75 – The legend of Prahladha – 5

Maharishi Narada speaks “ Oh! Rajan, Prahladha was born as the fourth child of Hiranyakshipu, the others were Hladha, Samhladha, and Anuhladha.  Prahlada was innocent, honest, and virtuous; he had good control over senses and knowledge of self.  He respected preceptor and saintly men; he had supreme knowledge of Bhramam which is eternal, pure, unchangeable and absolute truth, resides as a soul in living beings.   He considered the supreme Lord as his constant companion.  He was humble, kind, and caring to everyone like a father to his children.  His mind was unwavering; he neither sticks to grief nor happiness.   He had thorough knowledge that all that seeing and happening are fleeting and not permanent.   He contemplated supreme knowledge of the Lord who resides as soul in deities and Asuras as well.  He had immense love and faith upon the supreme Lord by birth, so that he could be able to live in supreme bliss always, with the constant remembrance of Lord; he had immense courage and felt protected by supreme Lord.   He was constantly united in his mind with intense love and devotion to Lord Govinda who illuminates the senses.   He continuously contemplated the supreme soul which has no birth or death; hence he was in a state of ecstasy.  Hiranyakashipu was anxious about the little child Prahladha who was in a state of supreme bliss always, as if untouched by grief or sorrow, he engages meditation for hours and hours contemplating Supreme Lord Hari, he forgets the surroundings and sing and dance contemplating upon Lord Hari.  The King sends for physicians of the palace to check on the health of Prahlada.  They informed Hiryankashipu that his son is perfectly alright, he is constantly contemplating upon Lord Hari who is the enemy of him and keeping himself blissful always.  This news multiplied the worries of Hiranyakshipu, he decided to send Prahaladha to learn under the guidance of a preceptor, an institution was built for the purpose and found preceptors for Prahlada.  Chanda and Amarka two sons of Shukracharya were appointed as the preceptor of Prahladha and a large number of children of demons were admitted to the school.  Prahlada was taught to worship Hiranyakashipu who is the Emperor of the Kingdom; his name should be recited in place of Lord Hari, he is the protector of the Kingdom and his subjects etc.  The little Prahladha showed the least interest in all those teachings and nothing was kept in his mind, as if he was not heard anything other than the name of Lord Hari.

The years passed, once Prahaldha was brought to the assembly of Hiranyakashipu, his father affectionately carried the child on his lap, and enquired about his studies in the school and asked “Oh! Child, what did you learn in the school? Which one of the teaching did you like the most?” Prahaldha looked at father’s eyes, he closed his eyes and said “ Oh! Father, I have heard the most marvelous teachings about the splendor supreme Lord Hari resides who resides as a soul in living beings, therefore contemplate upon him and elevate your soul.   The attachment to body which undergoes constant transformation and destruction could bring unhappiness, extreme pain, anxieties, sorrows, and grief.  Oh! Father, therefore takes shelter at the lotus feet of Supreme Lord Hari, conducts your journey to woods and contemplates upon him in the serenity of woods.  Oh! Father, Sravanam/listening to his glories, Keerthanam/praising his glories, Smaranam/remembrance of his glories, Mananam/contemplation, Padhasevanam/worship of Lord as Master, Archana/veneration of Lord, Dasyam/service to him and his devotees, Sankhyam/consider him as your companion, Athmanivedhanam/complete surrender, accept any of the methods of worship of Lord Hari, you will find supreme bliss. ”  Hiranyakashipu abruptly rose from the throne in a wave of extreme anger and enquired the preceptor who taught him about the excellence of Lord Hari.  He laughed sarcastically and said “ Oh! Fool, what you have learned from your teacher is utter foolishness.”  He called for the preceptor and questioned the reason for Prahladha’s devotion to Lord Hari, they were troubled and fondly called Prahlada.  “Oh! Vathsa, do not lie, tell us the truth who taught you about Lord Hari?  We did not teach you anything about him.”  Prahlada replied “ Oh! Preceptor, you are an ignorant one, you have no knowledge of all-pervading supreme soul, you have not understood the oneness-in – All, I shall prostrate before that supreme Lord who has minuscule form as well.  You did not realize the supreme Lord, who resides as a soul in all the living beings.”