Prahalada Charitram As narrated In Vishnu Puranam 4

 Continued From: https://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.com/2019/11/prahalada-charitram-as-narrated-in_7.html

 

Again after a few months, Hiranyakashipu sent for his son. He once again placed the boy on his lap with love.

‘Which is the best amongst the things you have studied?’

Prahaladan once again sang the glories of Lord Vishnu. ‘Shravanam is listening to the glories of Perumal, Keerthanam is the act of singing Perumal’s praise, Smaranam is to think about Him with constant uninterrupted devotion like an oil stream which never splatters, Pada Sevanam is the act of serving Bagawan and His Bagawathas, Archanam is a way to worship Perumal with flowers, Vandanam is to prostrate before Him, dasyam is to know that we always depend on Him and that He is our master, Sakhyam is the  act of staying the true friend of Perumal and atmanivedanam is the ultimate act of offering oneself to Perumal. Even any one amongst the nine acts is enough to obtain the Lord’s divine grace.’

Hiranyakashipu’s eyes turned red with anger. He felt steam coming out of his ears.

‘Who is teaching you all this nonsense and controlling you against me?’ yelled Hiranyakashipu.

‘Father,’ replied Prahaladan, ‘the same person who as your antaryami is making you ask this question is also in my heart. He is the only one who controls everyone including you from within. Except Him who else has the capacity to control us? If He directs a person to yell at us or inflict punishment upon us it is only to help us improve ourselves so that we can become a better person.’

Prahaladan taught us the most important concept through his slokam. He brought out the fact that Lord Vishnu as the antaryami controls and directs everyone from within them. Parents, government, teachers etc advise their children, citizens, and students dos and donts. They can only tell the children and citizens about the dos and donts but cannot control them to follow the dos and donts. Lord Narayana, on the other hand, is our antaryami. From within us, He controls us to do certain activities while preventing us from doing other activities.

All the changes we see around us occur per the will of the indwelling Perumal. Lord Vishnu’s will is the internal driving force. All the activities we do are per His will. There is an anecdote in the Mahabharata which illustrates this point.

Krishna was on His way to conduct the peace talks with the Kauravas. Duryodhana found Bhishmacharya, Dronacharya, Vidura and all the other elders making preparations to receive Lord Krishna. Duryodhana was annoyed with these preparations. He didn’t want to receive Lord Krishna with respect. He ordered all the elders that they must remain seated when Lord Krishna entered the courtroom. He ordered that no one must stand up in respect to receive Lord Krishna. Bhishmacharya agreed to Duryodhana’s wishes but said that he would follow Duryodana; if Duryodana remained seated they would all remain seated but if Duryodhana stood up then they will stand up as well.

Vidura was confused to see that Bhishmacharyar agreed to Duryodhana. He met with Bhishmacharyar in private and asked him why he had agreed to humiliate Lord Krishna.

‘Please don’t be worried,’ replied Bhishmacharyar. ‘Just remember number 3.’

‘What is number 3?’ Asked a confused Vidura.

‘I will explain to you when the time comes,’ said Bhishmacharya.
Continued On: https://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.com/2020/01/prahalada-charitram-as-narrated-in.html