Continued From : https://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.com/2019/11/prahalada-charitram-as-narrated-in_4.html
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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