Srimad Bhagavatam – day 393
“By serving those who have renounced the world, ardent devotees obtain the chance to serve the lotus feet of Lord Srihari! Prahlada served such saints, and through this enjoyed supreme bliss. In addition, by befriending the wicked, he brought peace and happiness to them”.
Prahlāda considered wicked persons to be unfortunate. Instead of abusing them he pitied them believing that a past curse had caused them to turn demonic. So he befriended them with the aim of bringing peace and calmness into their lives.
“Through his preaching, he tried to reform them. He showered them with true peace”.
To believe that happiness comes from material prosperity is a myth. True happiness arises only when devotion towards the Lord is cultivated. It is devotion that bestows endless peace. Night and day such a person is peaceful. In every birth, he will be peaceful. Prahlāda was such a fortunate true Mahatma!
“With feelings of hatred, Hiraṇyakaśipu mercilessly tortured this son who was truly devoted to the Lord” said Maharishi Nārada.
Instead of thanking the Lord that such a supreme devotee was born as his son, Hiraṇyakaśipu despised Prahlāda. Not once did he thank the Lord. For this reason, he died a dog’s death.
Emperor Yudhishthira then enquired, “O Devarishi! Your discipline known as devotion towards the Lord is unsurpassed! I seek that you should clarify another doubt of mine. Why did Hiraṇyakaśipu torment this son who possessed a noble, saintly nature? Please clarify this.
Due to his mere presence Prahlāda, the enlightened being, caused a transformation in wicked. Why was this fortune not bestowed upon his father? Isn’t it normal for a father to have feelings of affection towards his sons? In case of Hiranyakaśipu, where did this love disappear? Fathers scold sons who tread the wrong path purely with the intent of reforming them and never out of hatred. Even then, they never punish such sons”.
Even when a father needs to rebuke his son, his speech will be sweet. In this case even sweet speech was absent. There can never be a father who, despising his son, causes him harm. This is the way of the world. Even the most wicked father will never behave rudely towards his son. Even though he had performed limitless penance, Hiranyakaśipu never behaved affably with his son. He never showered him with love. Hiraṇyakaśipu did not have even the slightest compassion towards his son. Why? How could he be ruthless?
Prahlada was that noble son who was obedient towards his parents and who respectfully worshipped all elders treating them as God. How can a father chastise such son? This hatred towards his son became the reason for his ghastly death.”
People meet with ghastly accidents. They do not die but lose their hands and legs in that accident. It is a terrible punishment for sinners.
“Hiraṇyakaśipu’s evil habits took him closer towards death. I am very curious to know the facts. Please dispel my doubts” said Emperor Yudhishthira.
With this the fourth chapter of the Seventh Canto comes to an end.
Seventh Canto Chapter Five
In this chapter Hiraṇyakaśipu’s attempts to kill Prahlada and the nine types of devotion as explained by Prahlada are covered. It is a very deep subject.
Maharishi Nārada continued,
“Demon-king Hiraṇyakasipu selected Sukrācharya as his chief priest. Śanda and Amarka, the two sons of Śukrācharya, lived near Hiraṇyakaśipu’s house and tutored Prahlada at the behest of King Hiraṇyakaśipu. Although Prahlada was very young boy, in matters pertaining to scriptures he was adept. Along with other boys of demon clan, he began his education under these tutors.
Prahlada attentively heard all the lessons being taught by his teachers, but then figured out that feelings of likes-dislikes were the foundation for all lessons taught. The lessons centered around feelings of ‘mine and yours’ or ‘this belongs to me while that belongs to you’, ‘I should eternally be victorious’, ‘this is my land/ country, that is your land’, ‘this is my friend while he is my enemy’, or ‘this is my money and that is yours’. He was unhappy with this.