Thursday 7 November 2019

Prahalada Charitram As narrated In Vishnu Puranam 3



After many months Hiranyakashipu wanted to see his son. He sent for Prahladan. When Prahaladan entered the court, Hiranyakashipu was drinking heavily and was watching the apsaras dance. Prahaladan did not judge his father for being intoxicated but instead paid his obeisance to Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu hoisted the child on to his lap.
‘Tell me, my child, what have you learnt?’
‘I will answer after worshipping Achyuta,’ replied Prahaladan. ‘I have learnt that men should not lust after wealth but dedicate themselves to the service of Lord Narayana for this world is not permanent,’ started lecturing Prahlada to the utter horror of Hiranyakashipu. ‘Lord Vishnu is the first cause of all-cause. He has no beginning or end, nor does he grow or decay. He never lets down those who have faith in Him and have taken refuge in Him.
I have learnt that men should not lust after wealth but dedicate themselves to the service of Lord Narayana for this world is not permanent,’ started lecturing Prahlada to the utter horror of Hiranyakashipu. ‘there was a man who was chased through a thick jungle by a tiger. As it was very dark, the man couldn’t see the path clearly and soon fell inside a deep well. Fear grasped the man’s heart as he fell through the deep well and frantically tried to grab at anything which would stop his fall. At last he caught hold of a tree branch which extended into the well. Heaving a sigh of relief the man looked down into the well as he heard loud hissing. He was terrified to see a large python lying in wait for him. As the man looked up towards the mouth of the well, he found the tiger waiting for him to climb out. He heard crunching noises. He turned towards the direction the noise was coming from and saw two gophers chewing the branch he was holding on to. He realised that very soon they will chew through the branch and he will have to fall into the mouth of python. He decided to swing to the opposite wall and climb outside the well in order to avoid the tiger. As he swung himself from the tree branch, he smashed against a large beehive and was soon under attack as angry bees attacked him from all sides. As he yelled in pain, a drop of honey from the hive fell on his tongue. He licked his mouth in delight and exclaimed how tasty the honey drop was. This is our life! The tiger is our past karmas and it chases us forcing us to run through the forest of samsara. We fall into the deep well called home. Hunger, thirst and desire lie in wait for us like the python while family members pester us like the bees. Time in the form of old age and disease attack our body like the gophers chewing through the tree. Any enjoyment we feel is like that single drop of honey which is not permanent. Hence we should leave home, go to the forest and meditate upon the divine feet of Lord Narayana.’
‘Nonsense!’ yelled Hiranyakashipu. ‘Who has been feeding you this garbage? Don’t you know that it was Narayana who killed your uncle? What's the use of making you understand all this! After all, you are a child who is easily impressed. Send for Shandan and Amarkan immediately!’ thundered Hiranyakashipu.
The two teachers denied the accusations laid on them by Hiranyakashipu. ‘We only teach about your glories! Why would we take the name of Narayana when you are there?’
‘Alright, I give you one more chance. Take my son back to school but if I find that you have been influencing his mind, I will cut your heads with my sword!’

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