||Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 79 – The legend of Prahladha – 9

The legend of Prahladha teaches that every human has the potential to create happiness within themselves, and share it with others too.  The state of bliss can be achieved with the constant practice of meditation.  The mind becomes free from selfishness, ego, pride, expectations, sorrow, grief, pain,  jealousy, etc.  The practice of meditation purifies the human mind and intellect.   Prahlada taught the children of the demons about the supreme knowledge of self, which could boost their confidence and courage.   The two preceptors Chanda and Amarka returned to the school,  saw all the children reciting and sung in praise of Lord Hari.  The preceptors angrily seized Prahladha and said: “You do not deserve to stay alive, you are a huge threat not only to the clan of demons but also to the children of demons and your father Hiranyakashipu.”  

The preceptors produced Prahladha before the assembly of the King.  Hiranyakashipu’s eyes were reddened with anger, he seized Prahladha from the preceptors and said “ Oh! Fool, you are an unfortunate one, you will destroy our clan, and how did you get this much courage to oppose your father? Who is protecting you? Who is influencing you to turn against me? I will cut you into pieces.” Hiranyaksha took the sword to chop the head of Prahlada who was serene, with folded hands began to speak “ Oh! Rajan, the supreme soul in the minuscule form resides in us and deities as well, Oh! Father, that gives you the strength to speak loudly, it is neither your skill nor the power of the muscle.  He is Ishwara who is behind all the functioning of the body and intellect.  He protects the mind and intellect while the state of sleep and it brings back while the awakened state, all those functions of the body takes place with his presence.  Oh! Father, you should not mistreat the all-pervading supreme soul, kindly leave your adamant and demonic nature, and surrender yourself to that supreme Lord who is extremely compassionate, he is capable to forgive all the sins of the worshiper.  Oh! Father, the Supreme Lord resides as a soul in all the living beings,  it is impossible to attain Him without surrendering to him,  otherwise, you cannot achieve serenity or peace of mind,  or cannot understand the Oneness of the soul.  Kindly contemplate upon the supreme Lord Hari, he will not discard anyone.”  Hiranyakashipu could not tolerate any of the advice of Prahladha, he was in extreme rage, could not control his mind listening in praise of Lord Hari.  He shrieked in extreme anger “ Oh! Fool, how dare you praise Lord Hari, who gave you the strength to praise him? How did you find this much courage to praise him? Who’s that Bhagavan protecting you always?  I will see who is going to protect you while I slice your head.  Let me see that supreme Lord who resides as soul and omnipresent.”  Hiranyakashipu moved forward to slice down Prahlada, put a pause to his action and thought  "Prahlada should understand that there is no Lord exists, other than me in this world.  I have to prove to him that I am the only Lord who is protecting and ruling the entire world.  Let me prove him first and kill.”  Hiranyakashipu changed the sword from left hand to right, he forcefully banged the pillar with his fist,  and roared “ Oh! Fool, prove as you are preaching, if your Lord is all-pervading, he must be in  living and non-living things too, therefore show me the presence of your Lord in this pillar.”  when Hiranyakashipu forcefully banged the pillar with his fist, a deafening voice rose from the eight directions as if the Earth was quivering.  Hiranyakashipu was taken aback; he could not realize what’s happening before him.  He was alarmed to see a dreadful form of half lion – half man rose from the pillar; it was to prove the perception of Hiranyakashipu is wrong,  it was to protect Lord Bhrama’s boons and protect his ardent devotee Prahladha from the danger and ultimately to prove the all-pervading nature of the supreme Lord.