Srimad Bhagavatam – day 399
Achyutāya namah
Srihari eternally protects His ardent devotees. Hence even when these soldiers pierced Prahlāda using blade-like sharp tridents he remained unaffected. When all their attempts turned futile, Hiraṇyakaśipu became doubtful and yet at the same time, adamant that by hook or by crook this boy had to be killed.
The sinless Prahlāda was crushed under mighty elephants; he was bitten by poisonous serpents; witchcraft was performed upon him; he was repeatedly hurled from atop high mountains; through illusory methods, attempts were made to kill him; he was imprisoned in deep mountain caves; he was poisoned many times; he was starved for days at stretch; he was left to struggle in deep snow; he was thrown towards huge tsunami waves that were accompanied by gale winds; he was thrown into fire and into deep waters; huge boulders were thrown upon him in order to crush him. Despite all this Prahlāda remained safe.
To the demon king, his failure at killing Prahlāda appeared like an insult. When every plan backfired, he started getting more anxious and agitated. He was devising newer techniques, yet all consistently failed leaving him baffled.
“Prahlāda, with his radiance, manages to escape from every danger. Due to his powers no weapon is able to attack him. He still continues to live fearlessly. Although he is a tender boy, he is not ignorant.
In the previous eons, Śunaṣepa, who did not forget the harm done to him by his father, joined Viśwamitra who was a sworn enemy of his father. Likewise this boy will remember the harm that I have done to him. His supernatural prowess is beyond my understanding. He appears fearless and immortal. Enmity with this boy will perhaps pave the way for my death”- Hiraṇyakaśipu worried.
“Or maybe it may not end in that way”- saying this, he consoled himself. Due to his extreme anxiety, his face was crest-fallen. He stood with his head lowered down.
The teachers Śanda and Amaraka secretly met this king and said, “O Lord, merely seeing the movement of your eyebrows the Guardian-deities tremble. You are the sole monarch who rules over all the three worlds. There is nothing which you have not conquered. Why then are you worried about Prahlāda? After all he is a small child. Tie him with the varuṇa pāśa (rope). It will prevent him from fleeing. More importantly, as he grows up his mind will mature. By serving his teachers he will become more ripened in knowledge and will grasp our teachings.”
Satisfied with this advice, Hiraṇyakaśipu said, “Please teach him only those dharmas that pertain to the house-hold lives of Kings (grahastha dharma)”.
Obeying this command, teachers Śanda and Amaraka began to teach Prahlāda, the most humble and obedient student, the rules and regulations that pertained to the house-holder’s stage of life. They focused only upon the dharma, artha and kama ignoring moksha.
When they explained about sense-gratification which only leads to material joys and sorrows, Prahlāda was not at all pleased. He did not appreciate their teaching as he did not consider these lessons to be worthy.
One day the teachers went home to attend to their house-hold matters. For Prahlāda and other students of the school, this was a time for celebration. The friends begged Prahlāda to join in their games. Prahlāda however was a supreme jnani. Knowing that they all loved him dearly, with a charming smile he lovingly called them towards him.
These children had pure, sinless minds. Demonic tendencies had not yet entered into them. The words of those ordinary people, who having sunk into sensory pleasures were drowning in dualities called joys and sorrows, had not yet influenced them. They had deep reverence for Prahlāda. Hence as soon as Prahlāda called them, they threw away their toys and rushed towards him. They sat around him.
Although he was born in a demon family, Prahlāda was an epitome of compassion. He was a supreme devotee who strived for the well-being of one and all. The boys who surrounded him looked at him deeply fixing their minds solely upon him”.
With this the fifth chapter of the seventh canto comes to an end.
Achyutāya namah