After Lord Boar killed the demon Hiranyaksa, his brother Hiranyakashipu was tortured by rage and grief. His eyes blazing and biting his lips, Hiranyakashipu said to his demoniac associates, My beloved brother Hiranyaksa was slain by an inferior enemy. Although the Supreme Lord should be impartial, he sided with the gods after being worshipped by them.
The Supreme Lord has abandoned his pure nature of treating everyone equally. He has been affected by the illusory power by taking the form of a boar. I will avenge my brother and find peace when I cut off his head with my trident. When I have destroyed him, this will also destroy the gods. Just as cutting a tree at its roots destroys the branches, killing the Supreme Lord will kill those for whom he is their very life.
In the meantime, you should all go to the earth and destroy everyone who is practising austerity, studying the Veda and giving in charity. These activities are the foundation of Lord Vishnu’s existence and when the brahmins are killed there will be no one to perform sacrifices. Go to those places where there are brahmins, cows and the Veda and set fire to them so they are all destroyed.
Being ordered by Hiranyakashipu, his servants bowed before him and being pleased at giving trouble to others, they proceeded to terrorise the pious people of the earth. They burnt the orchards, fields, gardens and forests. They set fire to the cities, villages and the ashramas of the sages. When the people were constantly tormented by the followers of Hiranyakashipu they stopped performing sacrifice. The gods, deprived of their share of the rituals, left the celestial realm to wander over the earth.
Hiranyakashipu desired to become immortal and invincible and the unrivalled ruler of the universe. To achieve this he began practising a severe penance by stretching his arms upward toward the sky while standing on the tips of his big toes. Because of his penance, a light as radiant as the sun began emanating from his head and the beams drove all the gods back to their own realm.
A fire was generated from the top of his head, and the fire and smoke spread throughout the universe scorching all the worlds. The rivers and oceans became turbulent, the continents and mountains of the earth began shaking and the stars fell from their orbits.
The gods were afflicted by the harsh austerities being performed by Hiranyakashipu and so they approached Lord Brahma and said, Due to the heat being generated by Hiranyakashipu, we can no longer reside in the celestial realms. If you consider it the right thing to do, would you please extinguish this fire before all those who worship you are destroyed.
Because you attained your position as ruler of the worlds by practising harsh austerities, Hiranyakashipu intends to do the same so he can achieve an exalted position like yours. You are the ruler of this universe, so you should take the proper action.
After hearing the appeal of the gods, Brahma and his associates went to the hermitage of Hiranyakashipu. They couldn’t see Hiranyakashipu at first, because he had been standing there so long his body was covered by an ant hill, overgrown grass and bamboo and the ants had eaten away his flesh. When Brahma saw Hiranyakashipu he was amazed at how he was heating the entire world by his austerity.
Brahma said, Hiranyakashipu, please come here. You have achieved the purpose of your austerity because I have come to grant you a blessing. You may ask me for whatever benediction you desire. Your stamina is amazing. Your body has been eaten away by all kinds of insects and worms yet you have managed to keep your life air flowing through your body.
No one else has ever performed such austerity in the past, and no one in the future will be able to do this. How can anyone stay alive without even drinking water for such a long period of time? Your self discipline has allowed you to perform austerity that is impossible for even the greatest of saints, and therefore you have defeated me. Because of this I will grant you whatever benediction you desire.
After saying this, Lord Brahma sprinkled celestial water from his waterpot on Hiranyakashipu’s body. When the water touched Hiranyakashipu, his body was fully restored and he arose from the anthill with a strong and youthful body.
When he saw Lord Brahma standing before him, Hiranyakashipu was elated and he bowed before Brahma and said, I bow before the Supreme Lord of this world, who creates, maintains and destroys the universe. You are the source of all the living beings within the material world. You are the controller of the mind, intelligence and the material nature. You are the supreme soul of all living beings.
You are without beginning or end and the supreme inspiration. As time, you decrease the length of everyone’s life yet you are unaffected by time yourself. You are the supreme controller and the fundamental cause of all life. There is nothing that exists apart from you. You are the sustainer of the universe yet you transcend the modes of material nature. You are changeless, yet the oldest, the supreme one.
Please grant me the blessing benediction that I will not be killed by any of the living beings who are created by you. Let me not be killed inside or outside, during the day or during the night. Let me not be killed by any weapon and not on the ground or in the sky.
Let me not meet death at the hands of men or beasts, living or non-living being nor at the hand of any god, demon or serpent. Further grant me the blessing that I will be unmatched in fighting, always be victorious in battle and the ruler of all embodied beings.
Brahma said, Hiranyakashipu, the blessing you seek are rarely obtained by anyone. But I am pleased with your austere penances, so despite the fact that these blessings are difficult to achieve, I will give them to you. After saying this Brahma departed.
Hiranyakashipu subjugated the rulers of all the planets and brought all the three worlds under his control. He began living in the celestial realm in the palace of Indra, the king of heaven. Indra’s palace had floors made of emeralds and steps made of coral. The walls were made from crystal and the seats were decorated with rubies. The white silk bedding was adorned with pearls.
Hiranyakashipu was always intoxicated on strong wine and his red eyes rolling because of his drunkenness. He was honoured with presentations and gifts from important people. He was honoured with sacrifices and great gifts and appropriated it all for himself.
Although he became the absolute ruler of all the worlds and enjoyed as many pleasures as he liked, Hiranyakashipu did not conquer his own senses and so he remained dissatisfied. For a long time Hiranyakashipu lived in such a way, arrogant and proud of his affluence he paid no regard to the rules of the Vedic scriptures.
All the residents of the universe were afraid and in anxiety because of his punitive rule and control of Hiranyakashipu. So they sought the protection of Lord Vishnu. They prayed, Let us offer our homage in the direction where we will find the Supreme Lord, that region where the peaceful, renounced and pure souls go and never return.
Then they heard a loud resonating voice that said, O best of the wise, there will be good fortune for you all. The evil acts of the demoniac Hiranyakashipu are known to me and I will put an end to them. Please be patient and wait until the right time.
Those who are hostile toward the gods, the Vedas, the cows, the Brahmins, the virtuous and me, the Supreme Lord, will very shortly meet with destruction. His son Prahlada is virtuous and has no hostility toward anyone. When Hiranyakashipu is violent towards his own son, I will kill him despite the blessings he has received from Brahma.
The words of the Lord pacified them and they returned to their homes secure in the knowledge that Hiranyakashipu would soon be dead. Hiranyakashipu’s son Prahlada was endowed with all the virtues. He had control over his senses and his mind. He possessed a noble character and was always honest. He was kind and friendly to all living beings. He was never arrogant or proud despite his good education, nobility and wealth.
Although he was the son of the demoniac Hiranyakashipu, he was devoted to the Supreme Lord. He was never perturbed even in the midst of the greatest danger and he considered material things to be insubstantial. He restrained his senses and his mind and was therefore devoid of the demoniac nature.
In gatherings of the saints and sages Prahlada would be cited as an example of a virtuous and devoted soul. Even as a young boy, Prahlada was not interested in toys. His mind was always fully absorbed in thought of Lord Krishna and thus he was not interested in the activities of the material world. As Prahlada sat, walked, ate, drank or talked he was always embraced by Govinda and impervious to anything outside of that.
Prahlada would be absorbed in thoughts of the Lord and so he would sometimes cry or laugh aloud. At other times he would should loudly or dance in bliss. Sometimes he would be lost in his thoughts of Krishna and would imitate his activities. At times he would be overcome with spiritual ecstasy and would stand silently with his hairs standing on end and his eyes filled with tears. Prahlada was harassed by Hiranyakashipu even though he was his son.
One day Hiranyakashipu took his son Prahlada on his lap and said, What do you think is good Prahlada? Prahlada said, I think people are always distressed because they are encumbered with false ideas of I and Mine. So it is good if people give up all their material pursuits and reside in the forest where they can seek the refuge of the Supreme Lord.
When Hiranyakashipu heard this he laughed and said, How has your intelligence been corrupted with such ideas?” Then he said to his assistants, Please make sure Prahlada is protected at school so he will not be subject to the bad influence of any worshippers of Vishnu who are present there.
When Prahlada returned to school his teachers spoke gently to him and said, Prahlada, how has your intelligence been perverted? Please tell us the enemy who has taught you these ideas. Answer us truthfully.
Prahlada said, I bow down before the Supreme Lord whose power of illusion has created the false idea of friends and enemies. The wise do not consider some people their friends of enemies, they understand that everyone is a soul beloved of the Lord. Like metal attracted to a magnet, my consciousness is always drawn to the Supreme Lord Vishnu.
Hearing this Prahlada’s teachers became angry and said, Prahlada is damaging our reputation with his stupidity. Bring us a cane and maybe we can teach him something that way. Prahlada’s teachers threatened him in various ways and began to teach him about the goals of human life: religion, wealth and pleasure.
Later, when his teachers judged he had mastered the lessons they taught him, they brought him before his father. Hiranyakashipu greeted Prahlada affectionately and placed him on his lap and said, Prahlada you have been working very hard at school. Please tell me what you think is the best thing you have learnt.
Prahlada said, There are nine forms of devotion to Lord Vishnu, hearing his names, singing about him, bowing before him, worshipping Vishnu, offering service to him, being his friend, praying to him, remembering him and surrendering one’s soul to him. I consider this to be the supreme knowledge. When Hiranyakashipu heard this his lips began to quiver and he became extremely angry. He said to Prahlada’s teachers, What nonsense have you taught this boy? Have you disregarded me and joined the side of my enemies?
Prahlada’s teacher said, O King Hiranyakashipu, I did not teach Prahlada these things. Please do not be angry and blame us in this way. Hiranyakashipu said to Prahlada, You bring shame to our family Prahlada. If your teachers have not taught you this, then how did you learn these things?
Prahlada said, The mind doesn’t fix itself on Krishna because of the advice of another, or what someone does. It does not develop in those who do not control their senses. People who are too attached to material pleasures live a life that leads them into a hellish condition.
They look for guidance among those who regard material success as the goal of life. They care like blind persons being led by the blind. They cannot understand that the goal of human life is liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Their attachments continuously bind them to this world of suffering.
On hearing this Hiranyakashipu became enraged and his eyes turned red. He shouted at Prahlada’s teachers, Take this boy away from my presence and kill him immediately! This boy is like the murderer of my brother. He has given up his own family to worship Lord Vishnu who killed his uncle. This boy is only 5 years old yet he has given up the love of his father and mother. Such an untrustworthy person would be unlikely to behave well toward Vishnu either.
Even if it is someone else’s child, if they are beneficial they should be treated like a son. But if a son born of oneself is inimical, they should be rejected, just as one would cut off a diseased limb to save the rest of the body. This Prahlada is my enemy masquerading as my friend and an enemy should be killed by any means possible.
As they were commanded by their master Hiranyakashipu, the demons began attacking Prahlada and piercing him with the tridents. Prahlada sat silently meditating of the Supreme Lord. Because Prahlada was fully absorbed in the Supreme Lord, all the attempts on Prahlada’s life were ineffectual.
Hiranyakashipu began trying other ways to kill Prahlada. He tried to trample him with elephants, he threw him from a great height, he tried to poison him, put him amongst snakes, put him in the snow, in a fire, imprisoned him, starved him and tried to crush him with heavy rocks. But Hiranyakashipu was unable to harm Prahlada in any way and he became very anxious.
He thought to himself, I have tried many ways to kill Prahlada but despite all this he has survived by his own strength. Although he is only a small child he is not afraid as if he was immortal. Then his servant spoke to him and said, My Lord, I see no reason for you to be so miserable. You have conquered the entire universe. Prahlada is only a child, you should merely tie him up so he will not escape until your teacher Sukra returns. His intelligence will improve with age.
Hiranyakashipu agreed and said, Teach Prahlada the duties of the royal householders. So Prahlada was taught the three kinds of material advancement – occupational duty, wealth creation and sensual satisfaction. When the teachers went home for the day, Prahlada’s classmates would call him to come and play.
Prahlada said to his classmates, Even in childhood one should seek knowledge about the Supreme Lord and liberation from this world of suffering. Although our lives are temporary, a human life is not easily achieved and it gives the opportunity to worship Lord Vishnu.
The happiness available through sensual pleasure is available in any species of life. Such happiness comes to one automatically according to destiny, the same way suffering comes to us without making any effort. So it is a waste of your valuable lifespan to work hard for sensual pleasures. One should work toward liberation while they are in good health.
A human being has a life span of 100 years but half of those years are wasted. One spends time sleeping, 20 years are lost in childhood and another 20 when one is old and infirm. One who is too attached to sensual pleasures and family life also wastes the remaining years. He forgets that the purpose of human life is realisation of the absolute truth and is distracted by maintaining his family. Although he sees misery all around him, he does not become averse to the world.
So he becomes tightly bound by the ropes of attachment to worldly pleasure and is unable to liberate himself. Those whose minds are absorbed in sensual pleasures are thus imprisoned with chains of their own making. You should all therefore avoid associating with people whose minds are absorbed in sensual pleasures and seek the protection of the Supreme Lord because absorbing your mind in him is the means of liberation. t
The Supreme Lord is present within all species of life whether moving or non-moving. He is also present within the inert material elements. Although he is undivided he is present everywhere. Because he conceals himself with his illusory power and in this way creates the modes of material nature. One should always try to please the supreme person by giving up attachment to material things and showing compassion to all living beings.
What can those who please the Supreme Lord fail to achieve? He is the origin of everything in existence. Why would we aim for material benefits or pursue occupational duty, wealth creation and sensual satisfaction when these are the product of material nature? These goals are only valuable when done with the goal of pleasing the Lord.
The Supreme Lord taught this spiritual knowledge to the great sage Narada and Narada taught it to me. Prahlada’s classmates said, Prahlada, we are all just children and we live within this palace. We do not know any other teachers apart from Sanda and Amarka. We have doubts that a child like you has been taught by a great sage like Narada, give us some reason to believe you.
Prahlada said, When my father Hiranyakashipu was practising his severe penances so he could gain a benediction from Brahma, the gods took the opportunity created by his absence to conquer the rest of the demons in battle.
When the demons heard of the plan of the gods and saw the strength of their forces, they were afraid of being killed and they all retreated in different directions. To save themselves they left their homes, wives and children behind. The gods ransacked my father, Hiranyakashipu’s palace. Indra captured Hiranyakashipu’s queen, my mother and she cried out in fear.
The great sage Narada appeared and said to Indra, This woman is innocent and has committed no crime. She is the wife of another man. You should not drag her off in this way, you should let her go. Indra replied, This woman is pregnant with a child of the great demon Hiranyakashipu. She will remain our prisoner until the child is born and then she will be free to go.
Narada replied, This woman’s child is innocent. In fact he is a servant of the Supreme Lord Vishnu. He is powerful and you will be unable to harm him. When Indra heard this from Narada he respected the words of the sage and set my mother free and returned to the celestial realm. Narada took my mother to his ashram and said, You may stay here under my protection until your husband returns.
While my mother was staying in the ashram Narada gave her instruction on virtue and knowledge of the soul. I also heard those instructions and I remembered them. It is only necessary to trust these instructions and then it will be possible for you to remove the illusion of identifying the soul with the body. The material body undergoes constant change and transformation. However there is no transformation of the soul.
The soul is eternal and it does not decay. It is individual and the witness and knower. It is untouched by matter, self-luminous and pervades the body. Knowing these characteristics of the soul, the wise can renounce false ideas of I and Mine. Just as a scientist can extract gold from ore, a person with spiritual knowledge can distinguish their soul from their body.
There are said to be eight material elements and soul exists as their coordinator. The body is the combination of these elements and it is here that one should discriminate to find the soul by eliminating what it is not and saying, This is not it and that is not it.
By distinguishing between matter and the soul this way, using one’s intelligence and a purified mind, the soul can be realised. You can know the nature of the wind by the fragrances it has, and in the same way you can know the nature of the soul by distinguishing it from matter. Material things are created, maintained and destroyed.
The soul is subject to the influence of the qualities of material nature which is caused by ignorance and is unreal. Like a dream, one suffers the illusion of material existence. The easiest way to gain liberation from the bondage of material existence is to develop love for the Supreme Lord.
This can be achieved by offering service to a spiritual teacher. One should worship the Lord and hear about his qualities and activities. The Supreme Lord resides within the heart of every living being. Remembering this, one should offer respects to every living being.
By doing this one can conquer the passions that bind the soul to this world: lust, anger, greed, illusion, pride and envy. By performing service to the Supreme Lord one can achieve love for him. Then one experience tears and their hair stands on end, a their voice trembles when they hear about the Lord’s qualities and activities. Sometimes laughing or crying out, sometimes meditative and offering respects to all seeing the Lord within them. They unashamedly loudly sing the names of the Lord.
Because their body and mind are always attuned to the Lord, they become liberated from material obstacles. Their material desires are incinerated and they achieve the protection of the Supreme Lord. Because they are constantly in touch with the Supreme Lord, their material existence ceases and they experience spiritual joy. Those wise know this as the bliss of the spiritual existence. Therefore my friends devotedly sing the glories of the Supreme Lord who resides within the core of your heart.
What is difficult about this worship? He resides in the hearts of all. He is the friend and benefactor of all living beings, so why would people not want to worship him? What is the need of all these efforts to obtain sensual enjoyment? Wealth, friendship, spouse and children, houses, land, animals and sensual pleasure are all temporary. How can these temporary things bring real pleasure to anyone who understands their real self is eternal?
Even life on the celestial planets are temporary. Although there are enhanced pleasures available in the celestial sphere even they have the disturbances caused by the material nature. However, the Supreme Lord has no faults therefore one should worship him to obtain self-realisation.
Someone may think they are very wise and intelligent and can obtain pleasure from the rituals described in the Vedas, but in fact they achieve the opposite. Everyone in the material world performs their activities with the aim of achieving happiness and avoiding suffering. However, this merely leads to unhappiness because the attempt to achieve material happiness conceals the joy that comes from detachment from material activities.
The physical body by which one desires to secure enjoyment is perishable, so what lasting value can be found in all the things connected to the body like family, home, a kingdom or wealth? Eventually one will be separated from all these things.
These perishable things are of no value to the eternal soul. While the body exists they seem to have value, but they are worthless in achieving eternal happiness. It should be understood that the living being suffers in all phases of their life. This is a result of their previous karma. So why engage in material activities when they only cause suffering? The body one has at present is a result of one’s previous actions and the actions one performs in this body determines the next body one receives. The cycle of birth and death continues in this way.
Those who worship the Supreme Lord will receive all their material sustenance, therefore one should always worship the Supreme Lord without ulterior motives. The beloved Supreme Lord has created everything by his different energies.
Whether one is a god or demon, human, ghost, or celestial being, anyone who serves the Supreme Lord with devotion is blessed. Virtuous conduct or extensive education does not suffice in giving pleasure to the Supreme Lord. Neither will austerity, charity, sacrifice, cleanliness or vows. The Lord can only be satisfied by sincere and pure devotion, everything else is external
Therefore, devote yourself to the service of the omnipresent Supreme Lord and consider him as dear to you as your own self. Serving the Supreme Lord and perceiving his presence everywhere is the supreme welfare for people in this world.
Prahlada’s friends all accepted and followed his teachings and not the lessons their teachers gave them. When their teachers noticed that all the students were becoming devoted to the Supreme Lord they fearfully went to see Hiranyakashipu. On hearing this, Hiranyakashipu became enraged and harshly scolded Prahlada although he did not deserve to be punished.
Prahlada was humble and restrained and he stood before Hiranyakashipu with his palms together in respect. But Hiranyakashipu hissed like a snake that had been trodden on as he said to Prahlada, You are foolish and insolent and a curse in my family. Today I shall dispatch you to the abode of Yamaraja, the lord of death because you have stubbornly disobeyed my commands. The entire universe trembles in fear of me when I am angry. Whose strength did you rely on to fearlessly and foolishly violate my commands?
Prahlada said, Not only you and I, but everyone, whether animate or inanimate, higher or lower, including Brahma obtains their strength from the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord controls everything. He is time. He is the strength of our mind and senses. He is the greatest of all the living beings. It is his power that creates, preserves and then destroys this entire material world.
You should abandon this impious behaviour. Treat everyone equally and do not consider anyone your friend or your enemy. Your only enemy is your uncontrolled mind. There have been many people before you that arrogantly regarded themselves as victorious over their enemies in all directions, even though they had failed to conquer their own mind and senses. But those who have conquered their mind and senses have no enemies within this world.
Hiranyakashipu said, You obviously want to die since you are arrogantly boasting and talking nonsense. You are a foolish scoundrel. You speak of a Supreme Lord who controls all, but where is he if he is someone other than me? If he is omnipresent then why can’t I see him in this pillar? Let me see your Lord protect you now, because you are boasting so much that I am going to cut off your head.
Hiranyakashipu was enraged and repeatedly abused his son with sharp words. He jumped up with his sword in hand and hit the pillar. Immediately there was a terrible noise that sounded like the universe itself had been split apart. It was so loud it could be heard in the celestial realms and Brahma and the gods thought the universe was about to end.
When Hiranyakashipu heard the sound he was amazed. No one in the palace could understand where the noise had come from and they all became afraid. The Supreme Lord wanted to show that the words of his servants are true, and so he demonstrated his omnipresence by appearing from the pillar.
He showed himself in the form of half man and half lion. Hiranyakashipu was astonished to see the form coming out of the pillar and he couldn’t tell what sort of creature it was. In his amazement he said, It is neither man nor beast, what is this creature that is half human and half lion?
Hiranyakashipu looked at the frightening form of Lord Narasimha. He had furious eyes of molten gold, lethal teeth and his glossy mane caused his face to appear enormous. He brandished his tongue around like a sharp sword and looked around with a terrible frown. His ears were rigid on the top of his head and his open jaws and nostrils resembled a gaping cavern. His neck was short and thick. His chest was wide and his waist was thin. Looking like lunar rays, white hairs covered his body. His arms with their deadly claws stretched in all directions.
Hiranyakashipu thought to himself, Maybe this is the plan of Hari, the master of illusion, to try and kill me. But it is futile because no-one can defeat me. Saying this, Hiranyakashipu armed himself with a club and rushed toward Lord Narasimha with a roar. When Hiranyakashipu attacked Lord Narasimha, he became invisible within Lord Narasimha’s effulgence. There was nothing surprising in the disappearance of the personified darkness into the effulgence of the light incarnate.
Hiranyakashipu furiously attacked Lord Narasimha with his club. But like Garuda seizing a snake the Lord seized Hiranyakashipu. Lord Narasimha then let Hiranyakashipu escape from his grasp like Garuda playing with his prey. The gods who were watching the fight were disturbed when they saw this.
Hiranyakashipu thought the Lord had released him because he was afraid of his strength. He armed himself with sword and his shield and furiously attacked the Lord again. Hiranyakashipu moved as swiftly as a hawk brandishing his sword and shield, Lord Narasimha let out a loud piercing laugh seized Hiranyakashipu.
Lord Narasimha captured him as easily as a snake captures a mouse. While Hiranyakashipu limbs were thrashing around as he tried to escape, Lord Narasimha placed him on his thighs and pierced him with his fingernails. Lord Narasimha’s fierce and angry eyes were difficult to look at. His mouth was wide open as he licked the blood from his mane and lips. He looked like a lion wearing a garland of the entrails of an elephant he has just killed.
He tore out Hiranyakashipu’s heart and then threw his body aside. Then he turned to the thousands of Hiranyakashipu’s soldiers who had assembled there and killed them all with just his fingernails. Lord Narasimha shook his mane and scattered the clouds. His fierce and glaring eyes outshone the radiance of the stars and the oceans became turbulent from his breathing. Lord Narasimha sat down on Hiranyakashipu’s throne, his appearance was so fearsome that no one dared go near him.
When the gods and their wives heard that Hiranyakashipu, who had terrified the entire universe, had been slain they became joyful and in appreciation they rained flowers on Lord Narasimha. The gods, the sages, the residents of the celestial planets, and many others assembled near Lord Narasimha and with folded palms hands they all praised the Lord.
Brahma said, I bow before the unlimited Lord and offer you homage. You create, preserve and destroy the entire universe without undergoing any change yourself. Shiva said, My Lord, at the closing of the era you should display your rage. Hiranyakashipu’s son Prahlada has approached you, please protect him.
Indra said, Due to the demoniac activities of Hiranyakashipu our hearts were overcome with darkness. But our hearts are really your residence. Those of us who are devoted to serving you do not care even for liberation from suffering so of what use is material prosperity?
The gods and others present were all very afraid of the angry and fearsome form of Lord Narasimha and so they could not go forward to stand before him. Lord Brahma said to Prahlada, You should go forward and pacify Lord Narasimha, he is still enraged at your father.
The child slowly moved toward Lord Narasimha and prostrated his body on the ground before him. Seeing the boy fallen at his feet, Lord Narasimha felt great compassion for him and he placed his hand on Prahlada’s head and thereby removed his fear.
Because of the touch of Lord Narasimha, Prahlada was completely purified, there were tears in his eyes and he was overcome with joy. With his mind concentrated on Lord Narasimha, Prahlada praised him with a voice choked with emotion. I have been born in a family of demons, so how can I offer prayers to you? Brahma and the gods were unable to please you with their words, so how can you be pleased with the words of someone like me?
I do not think that wealth, noble birth, austerity, great learning, intelligence, strength or beauty will satisfy the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord is only pleased by devotion. A person who possesses all the brahminical qualifications but has no devotion to the Lord, is not as fortunate as the low class person who has surrendered their body, mind and words to serving the Lord. Those who are devoted to the Supreme Lord purify their entire family lineage, unlike a person who is respected by society.
The Lord does not require anything from anyone. When someone offers him something it benefits the person who is making the offering because the Lord is independent. So I should not consider myself unfit to offer prayers to you. However unqualified I may be, I will be purified by offering prayers to the Lord to the best of my ability.
Lord Narasimha, now that Hiranyakashipu is dead, please give up your anger. Even a pious person is happy when a snake or scorpion is killed. Everyone is now joyful because the tyrant Hiranyakashipu is dead. I am not afraid of your present form, not your fearsome appearance, your angry eyes and sharp teeth or your garland of intestines or your blood-soaked mane. I am not afraid of your roar that scares even the elephants or your sharp nails.
I am however, frightened of the prospect of repeated birth and death in this material world. Bound by my past actions I was born into a family of demons, when will you be pleased to summon me to your lotus feet, the only source of refuge for the soul.
In this world a parent is not the protector of a child and medicine is not the remedy for suffering. Those how are not favoured with your grace can do nothing to improve their situation. Whatever they do to relieve their suffering is a temporary solution. Everyone within this material world is searching for pleasure, but it is like a mirage in the desert. There is none to be found.
O Supreme Lord, without offering service to you by praying, offering all actions to you, singing your glories, offering homage to you, always remembering you and hearing about your wonderful qualities, one cannot achieve freedom from suffering.
The prayers of Prahlada appeased Lord Narasimha and he was no longer angry. Lord Narasimha said, Prahlada my blessings to you, for you have pleased me. I am the bestower of all benedictions and you should ask for whatever you desire. Anyone who has pleased me does not need to worry about suffering any further affliction. Therefore the wise always try to please me, because I am the giver of all benedictions.
Prahlada considered any material benedictions to be obstacles to spiritual fulfilment and so he smiled and said, Please do not tempt me with material pleasures, for I have been born into a family of demons and so I am attached to material enjoyments. I do not want to be attached to material things because I desire liberation from birth and death.
Anyone who accepts worldly gains as reward for serving you, is a merchant who wishes to profit from their service. But I am your servant who has no desire for profit, and you are my master who requires nothing and is independent. It is not necessary for you to give me anything at all. However, if you would like to give me a blessing, then I would only ask that you destroy all my material desires.
Lord Narasimha said, Although you do not want any material benefits, I instruct you to rule over your father’s kingdom. Even while you are living within the material world, you should always think of me. Anyone who remembers me and my activities will eventually be liberated from material life. After saying this, the Supreme Lord disappeared.
Anyone who hears this story of Lord Narasimha and Prahlada will certainly reach the spiritual realm and be liberated from all suffering.
