Canto
7
Chapter 4: Hiranyakas'ipu Terrorizes the Universe
(1) S'rî Nârada said: 'Lord Brahmâ who sees everywhere, thus being solicited then, pleased by Hiranyakas'ipu's austerities, granted him the benedictions that are so rarely achieved. (2) Lord Brahmâ said: 'My son, all the boons you asked for are very rarely by men obtained from me, but despite of the fact that these blessings are normally not available, I will award them to you, my best.'
(3) Thereupon departed the mighty Lord, whose grace knows no faults, being worshiped by the most exalted asura as the Almighty One praised by all rulers of manhood. (4) The Daitya who thus obtained his desired boon and had acquired a body with a golden luster, maintained a constant contemplation of hatred against the Lord who had killed his brother. (5-7) He, the greatest asura, conquering all places high, low and middle in all directions, brought under his control the masters of all worlds: god, demon and man, the kings, the indwellers of heaven, the reciters of the verses and the serpentine, the ones of perfection, of culture and knowledge, the saints, the leading forefathers, the founding fathers, the evil spirits, the wild men and the madmen and the dead and the ghosts and their leaders; as the conqueror of the world he usurped the power of rule of all authorities everywhere. (8) In the paradise of the godly remaining in the riches of all opulence, lived he in the highest world, in the palace of the king of heaven as designed by Vis'vakarmâ the great asura architect himself; in control of all the wealth of the world lived he in the abode of Lakshmî. (9-12) There the steps were of coral, the floors of emerald, the walls of crystal and the rows of pillars of vaidûrya stone. Also were there the most wonderful canopies and seats bedecked with rubies and was the bedding as white as the foam of milk with pearls on its borders. In the quarters, left and right, adorned with jewels and gems, made the celestial ladies sweet sounds with their jingling ankle bells and showed they their nice teeth to their beautiful faces. In that royal residence with the greatest might and mind ruling with a most severe oppression enjoyed the dictator, having everyone under his control, the worship by the godly entourage at his feet. (13) He, o best one, the harbor of all austerity, yoga, strength and good sense, who, except for by the three principal deities, with all glory was honored with presentations from the hands of all the important men, was in reality intoxicated by strong scented wines to which he rolled his eyes red as copper. (14) On the seat of Indra being glorified by Vis'vâvasu, Tumburu [the greatest Gandharvas] and also by me, were time and again prayers offered by all the singers and girls of heaven, the perfected, the saints and the ones of knowledge, o son of Pându. (15) And he, factually being worshiped with gifts in abundance by all classes and agegroups, reserved in the exercise of his power every portion of the oblations for himself. (16) As if she was the cow of plenty herself, yielded the earth under his rule on all continents spontaneously crops in a great abundance, while in the sky all the wonders of the universe could be observed. (17) The seas and oceans of salt and sweet water, wine, ghee, cane-juice, yogurt and milk, and their wives the rivers as well, carried all kinds of precious stones in their waves. (18) The valleys between the mountains and hills were his pleasure grounds offering throughout all seasons all the good of plant and tree; he alone stood for all the different qualities of all the different gods. (19) He, thus having conquered all directions as the one and only ruler enjoying all the pleasures one can think of, was not satisfied though being out of control with his senses. (20) Intoxicated in his great pride over his opulence thus passed a long period of living in offense with the scriptures and was the curse of the brahmin met [see also B.G. 16: 23-24].
(21) Disturbed by his painful rebuke was there for all the worlds and their leaders no place were they were safe and thus approached they the Infallible One to seek shelter with Him [compare B.G. 5.: 29]. (22-23) To that they prayed: 'Let there be our obeisances in that direction where the Supersoul of Hari, the Supreme Controller is found and from where, approaching Him, the peaceful, renounced and pure never return.' With their minds controlled that way they steadied and purified their intelligence, feeding on air only in worshiping the Master of the Senses without taking to sleep.
(24) To them all then appeared a loudly resonating voice without a form that, driving away their fear, stirred the saintly in all their pores: (25-26) 'Do not fear, o best of learning, may there be all good fortune for you. The presence of Me indeed is there for all living beings to attain all the good. The nefarious activities of this great demon are known to Me and I shall put an end to them, just await that time. (27) When one is averse to the gods, the Vedas, the cows, the brahmins, the saints, the regulative principles and to Me, will one indeed soon be vanquished. (28) When he is of violence unto his peace loving son who has no enemies, that great soul, Prahlâda, shall I kill him, whatever the blessings he has received [see also 3.25: 21].'
(29) S'rî Nârada said: 'Thus addressed by the spiritual master of all, turned the godly back to their places offering Him their obeisances, in their hearts relieved of all their anxieties and considered they the asura as good as killed [2.3: 10]. (30) Of him, the daitya king there were four most qualified sons of whom the one named Prahlâda was the greatest with all the qualities of a great devotee [see 5.18: 12]. (31-32) As a good brahmin being of full control over the senses and the mind, had he all the talent of understanding the Absolute of the Truth. Like the Supersoul was he the beloved, best friend of all living beings, like a menial servant obeyed he always at the feet of the great, like a father he was kind to the poor, like a brother was he to his equals, he was full of affection for the spiritual masters whom he held as high as the Supreme Controller Himself; he was of education, purpose, beauty, nobility and completely free from arrogance and impudence [compare B.G. 12: 13-19 and B.G. 18: 42]. (33) Even though he was born from an asura was he in the midst of danger of an unperturbed consciousness and had he no desire whatsoever to what is heard and what is seen [with the Vedic knowledge]; things of the modes of matter he considered insubstantial and controlling the senses and life force, were the lusts of his body and his mind always quieted; he was completely void of the demoniac nature. (34) The qualities of him are, like those found in the Supreme Lord our Controller, by the advanced always glorified as being the greatest, o King, and not so much the ones one is so confused about today [in Kali-yuga]. (35) In gatherings for the sake of the saintly would even the godly of enmity [with the asuric], o ruler of man, take him for an example; then why shouldn't you or others? (36) The greatness of the countless qualities of him who is known for his natural attachment to Vâsudeva, the Supreme Lord, defies all description. (37) As a boy having forsaken all child play seemed he to be listless, fully absorbed with his mind in the world of Krishna as he was; completely of that attraction was he not interested in the ways of the world. (38) As he sat and walked, ate and lied down, drank or talked, was he, embraced by Govinda, impervious to anything that went on outside of it. (39) Sometimes he cried thinking of Vaikunthha, sometimes he laughed to the follies of the mind and sometimes chanted he thinking of Him gladly, very loud. (40) Sometimes he exclaimed anxiously, sometimes without shame he danced and sometimes did he, lost in thoughts about Him, imitate Him thinking to be Him. (41) At times with his hair standing on end and his half closed eyes filled with tears, fell he completely silent rapt with joy being caught in His loving association of transcendental bliss. (42) He by his constant service to the lotus feet as glorified in the hymns, obtained of expanding on the association with the liberated the highest ecstasy, bestowing constantly from the spiritual soul peace upon the ones poor in spirit and association. (43) Unto him that exalted and most fortunate broad minded devotee, o King, who was his own son, committed Hiranyakas'ipu the greatest sin.'
(44) S'rî Yudhishthhira said: 'O saint of God vowed to the best, we would like to know from you the following: how could the father give his own son, such a saint of purity and goodness, any trouble? (45) Sons going against the will of their fathers are chastised out of love. For the sake of their education, they can't be punished like an enemy, can they? (46) Please dissipate the doubts we have, o brahmin, about this father being so mean in hating to the point of death his own so very obedient son, a great devotee of the sort that honors his father as his guru, o master.'
Second edition, loaded June 19, 2007.
Source texts:
Hiranyakas'ipu Terrorizes the Universe
S'rî Nârada said: 'Lord Brahmâ who sees everywhere, thus being solicited then, pleased by Hiranyakas'ipu's austerities, granted him the benedictions that are so rarely achieved.Nârada Muni continued: Lord Brahmâ was very much satisfied by Hiranyakas'ipu's austerities, which were difficult to perform. Therefore, when solicited for benedictions, he indeed granted them, although they were rarely to be achieved. (Vedabase)
Lord Brahmâ said: 'My son, all the boons you asked for are very rarely by men obtained from me, but despite of the fact that these blessings are normally not available, I will award them to you, my best.'
Lord Brahmâ said: O Hiranyakas'ipu, these benedictions for which you have asked are difficult to obtain for most men. Nonetheless, O my son, I shall grant you them although they are generally not available. (Vedabase)
Thereupon departed the mighty Lord, whose grace knows no faults, being worshiped by the most exalted asura as the Almighty One praised by all rulers of manhood.
Then Lord Brahmâ, who awards infallible benedictions, departed, being worshiped by the best of the demons, Hiranyakas'ipu, and being praised by great sages and saintly persons. (Vedabase)
The Daitya who thus obtained his desired boon and had acquired a body with a golden luster, maintained a constant contemplation of hatred against the Lord who had killed his brother.
The demon Hiranyakas'ipu, having thus been blessed by Lord Brahmâ and having acquired a lustrous golden body, continued to remember the death of his brother and therefore be envious of Lord Vishnu. (Vedabase)
He, the greatest asura, conquering all places high, low and middle in all directions, brought under his control the masters of all worlds: god, demon and man, the kings, the indwellers of heaven, the reciters of the verses and the serpentine, the ones of perfection, of culture and knowledge, the saints, the leading forefathers, the founding fathers, the evil spirits, the wild men and the madmen and the dead and the ghosts and their leaders; as the conqueror of the world he usurped the power of rule of all authorities everywhere.
Hiranyakas'ipu became the conqueror of the entire universe. Indeed, that great demon conquered all the planets in the three worlds--upper, middle and lower--including the planets of the human beings, the Gandharvas, the Garudas, the great serpents, the Siddhas, Câranas and Vidyâdharas, the great saints, Yamarâja, the Manus, the Yakshas, the Râkshasas, the Pis'âcas and their masters, and the masters of the ghosts and Bhûtas. He defeated the rulers of all the other planets where there are living entities and brought them under his control. Conquering the abodes of all, he seized their power and influence. (Vedabase)
In the paradise of the godly remaining in the riches of all opulence, lived he in the highest world, in the palace of the king of heaven as designed by Vis'vakarmâ the great asura architect himself; in control of all the wealth of the world lived he in the abode of Lakshmî.
Hiranyakas'ipu, who possessed all opulence, began residing in heaven, with its famous Nandana garden, which is enjoyed by the demigods. In fact, he resided in the most opulent palace of Indra, the King of heaven. The palace had been directly constructed by the demigod architect Visvakarma and was as beautifully made as if the goddess of fortune of the entire universe resided there. (Vedabase)
There the steps were of coral, the floors of emerald, the walls of crystal and the rows of pillars of vaidûrya stone. Also were there the most wonderful canopies and seats bedecked with rubies and was the bedding as white as the foam of milk with pearls on its borders. In the quarters, left and right, adorned with jewels and gems, made the celestial ladies sweet sounds with their jingling ankle bells and showed they their nice teeth to their beautiful faces. In that royal residence with the greatest might and mind ruling with a most severe oppression enjoyed the dictator, having everyone under his control, the worship by the godly entourage at his feet.
The steps of King Indra's residence were made of coral, the floor was bedecked with invaluable emeralds, the walls were of crystal, and the columns of vaidûrya stone. The wonderful canopies were beautifully decorated, the seats were bedecked with rubies, and the silk bedding, as white as foam, was decorated with pearls. The ladies of the palace, who were blessed with beautiful teeth and the most wonderfully beautiful faces, walked here and there in the palace, their ankle bells tinkling melodiously, and saw their own beautiful reflections in the gems. The demigods, however, being very much oppressed, had to bow down and offer obeisances at the feet of Hiranyakas'ipu, who chastised the demigods very severely and for no reason. Thus Hiranyakas'ipu lived in the palace and severely ruled everyone. (Vedabase)
He, o best one, the harbor of all austerity, yoga, strength and good sense, who, except for by the three principal deities, with all glory was honored with presentations from the hands of all the important men, was in reality intoxicated by strong scented wines to which he rolled his eyes red as copper.
O my dear King, Hiranyakas'ipu was always drunk on strong-smelling wines and liquors, and therefore his coppery eyes were always rolling. Nonetheless, because he had powerfully executed great austerities in mystic yoga, although he was abominable, all but the three principal demigods--Lord Brahmâ, Lord S'iva and Lord Vishnu--personally worshiped him to please him by bringing him various presentations with their own hands. (Vedabase)
On the seat of Indra being glorified by Vis'vâvasu, Tumburu [the greatest Gandharvas] and also by me, were time and again prayers offered by all the singers and girls of heaven, the perfected, the saints and the ones of knowledge, o son of Pându.
O Mahârâja Yudhishthhira, descendant of Pându, by dint of his personal power, Hiranyakas'ipu, being situated on the throne of King Indra, controlled the inhabitants of all the other planets. The two Gandharvas Vis'vâvasu and Tumburu, I myself and the Vidyâdharas, Apsarâs and sages all offered prayers to him again and again just to glorify him. (Vedabase)
And he, factually being worshiped with gifts in abundance by all classes and agegroups, reserved in the exercise of his power every portion of the oblations for himself.
Being worshiped by sacrifices offered with great gifts by those who strictly followed the principles of varna and âs'rama, Hiranyakas'ipu, instead of offering shares of the oblations to the demigods, accepted them himself. (Vedabase)
As if she was the cow of plenty herself, yielded the earth under his rule on all continents spontaneously crops in a great abundance, while in the sky all the wonders of the universe could be observed.
As if in fear of Hiranyakas'ipu, the planet earth, which consists of seven islands, delivered food grains without being plowed. Thus it resembled cows like the surabhi of the spiritual world or the kâma-dughâ of heaven. The earth yielded sufficient food grains, the cows supplied abundant milk, and outer space was beautifully decorated with wonderful phenomena. (Vedabase)Text 17
The seas and oceans of salt and sweet water, wine, ghee, cane-juice, yogurt and milk, and their wives the rivers as well, carried all kinds of precious stones in their waves.
By the flowing of their waves, the various oceans of the universe, along with their tributaries, the rivers, which are compared to their wives, supplied various kinds of gems and jewels for Hiranyakas'ipu's use. These oceans were the oceans of salt water, sugarcane juice, wine, clarified butter, milk, yogurt, and sweet water. (Vedabase)
The valleys between the mountains and hills were his pleasure grounds offering throughout all seasons all the good of plant and tree; he alone stood for all the different qualities of all the different gods.
The valleys between the mountains became fields of pleasure for Hiranyakas'ipu, by whose influence all the trees and plants produced fruits and flowers profusely in all seasons. The qualities of pouring water, drying and burning, which are all qualities of the three departmental heads of the universe--namely Indra, Vâyu and Agni--were all directed by Hiranyakas'ipu alone, without assistance from the demigods. (Vedabase)
He, thus having conquered all directions as the one and only ruler enjoying all the pleasures one can think of, was not satisfied though being out of control with his senses.
In spite of achieving the power to control in all directions and in spite of enjoying all types of dear sense gratification as much as possible, Hiranyakas'ipu was dissatisfied because instead of controlling his senses he remained their servant. (Vedabase)
Intoxicated in his great pride over his opulence thus passed a long period of living in offense with the scriptures and was the curse of the brahmin met [see also B.G. 16: 23-24].
Hiranyakas'ipu thus passed a long time being very much proud of his opulences and transgressing the laws and regulations mentioned in the authoritative s'âstras. He was therefore subjected to a curse by the four Kumâras, who were great brâhmanas. (Vedabase)
Disturbed by his painful rebuke was there for all the worlds and their leaders no place were they were safe and thus approached they the Infallible One to seek shelter with Him [compare B.G. 5.: 29].
Everyone, including the rulers of the various planets, was extremely distressed because of the severe punishment inflicted upon them by Hiranyakas'ipu. Fearful and disturbed, unable to find any other shelter, they at last surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu. (Vedabase)
To that they prayed: 'Let there be our obeisances in that direction where the Supersoul of Hari, the Supreme Controller is found and from where, approaching Him, the peaceful, renounced and pure never return.' With their minds controlled that way they steadied and purified their intelligence, feeding on air only in worshiping the Master of the Senses without taking to sleep.
"Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto that direction where the Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated, where those purified souls in the renounced order of life, the great saintly persons, go, and from which, having gone, they never return." Without sleep, fully controlling their minds, and living on only their breath, the predominating deities of the various planets began worshiping Hrishîkes'a with this meditation. (Vedabase)
To them all then appeared a loudly resonating voice without a form that, driving away their fear, stirred the saintly in all their pores:
Then there appeared before them a transcendental sound vibration, emanating from a personality not visible to material eyes. The voice was as grave as the sound of a cloud, and it was very encouraging, driving away all fear. (Vedabase)
'Do not fear, o best of learning, may there be all good fortune for you. The presence of Me indeed is there for all living beings to attain all the good. The nefarious activities of this great demon are known to Me and I shall put an end to them, just await that time.
The voice of the Lord vibrated as follows: O best of learned persons, do not fear! I wish all good fortune to you. Become My devotees by hearing and chanting about Me and offering Me prayers, for these are certainly meant to award benedictions to all living entities. I know all about the activities of Hiranyakas'ipu and shall surely stop them very soon. Please wait patiently until that time. (Vedabase)
When one is averse to the gods, the Vedas, the cows, the brahmins, the saints, the regulative principles and to Me, will one indeed soon be vanquished.
When one is envious of the demigods, who represent the Supreme Personality of Godhead, of the Vedas, which give all knowledge, of the cows, brâhmanas, Vaishnavas and religious principles, and ultimately of Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he and his civilization will be vanquished without delay. (Vedabase)
When he is of violence unto his peace loving son who has no enemies, that great soul, Prahlâda, shall I kill him, whatever the blessings he has received [see also 3.25: 21].'
When Hiranyakas'ipu teases the great devotee Prahlâda, his own son, who is peaceful and sober and who has no enemy, I shall kill Hiranyakas'ipu immediately, despite the benedictions of Brahma. (Vedabase)
S'rî Nârada said: 'Thus addressed by the spiritual master of all, turned the godly back to their places offering Him their obeisances, in their hearts relieved of all their anxieties and considered they the asura as good as killed [2.3: 10].
The great saint Nârada Muni continued: When the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the spiritual master of everyone, thus reassured all the demigods living in the heavenly planets, they offered their respectful obeisances unto Him and returned, confident that the demon Hiranyakas'ipu was now practically dead. (Vedabase)
Of him, the daitya king there were four most qualified sons of whom the one named Prahlâda was the greatest with all the qualities of a great devotee [see 5.18: 12].
Hiranyakas'ipu had four wonderful, well-qualified sons, of whom the one named Prahlâda was the best. Indeed, Prahlâda was a reservoir of all transcendental qualities because he was an unalloyed devotee of the Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)
As a good brahmin being of full control over the senses and the mind, had he all the talent of understanding the Absolute of the Truth. Like the Supersoul was he the beloved, best friend of all living beings, like a menial servant obeyed he always at the feet of the great, like a father he was kind to the poor, like a brother was he to his equals, he was full of affection for the spiritual masters whom he held as high as the Supreme Controller Himself; he was of education, purpose, beauty, nobility and completely free from arrogance and impudence [compare B.G. 12: 13-19 and B.G. 18: 42].
[The qualities of Mahârâja Prahlâda, the son of Hiranyakas'ipu, are described herewith.] He was completely cultured as a qualified brâhmana, having very good character and being determined to understand the Absolute Truth. He had full control of his senses and mind. Like the Supersoul, he was kind to every living entity and was the best friend of everyone. To respectable persons he acted exactly like a menial servant, to the poor he was like a father, to his equals he was attached like a sympathetic brother, and he considered his teachers, spiritual masters and older Godbrothers to be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was completely free from unnatural pride that might have arisen from his good education, riches, beauty, aristocracy and so on. (Vedabase)
Even though he was born from an asura was he in the midst of danger of an unperturbed consciousness and had he no desire whatsoever to what is heard and what is seen [with the Vedic knowledge]; things of the modes of matter he considered insubstantial and controlling the senses and life force, were the lusts of his body and his mind always quieted; he was completely void of the demoniac nature.
Although Prahlâda Mahârâja was born in a family of asuras, he himself was not an asura but a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Unlike the other asuras, he was never envious of Vaishnavas. He was not agitated when put into danger, and he was neither directly nor indirectly interested in the fruitive activities described in the Vedas. Indeed, he considered everything material to be useless, and therefore he was completely devoid of material desires. He always controlled his senses and life air, and being of steady intelligence and determination, he subdued all lusty desires. (Vedabase)
The qualities of him are, like those found in the Supreme Lord our Controller, by the advanced always glorified as being the greatest, o King, and not so much the ones one is so confused about today [in Kali-yuga].
O King, Prahlâda Mahârâja's good qualities are still glorified by learned saints and Vaishnavas. As all good qualities are always found existing in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they also exist forever in His devotee Prahlâda Mahârâja. (Vedabase)
In gatherings for the sake of the saintly would even the godly of enmity [with the asuric], o ruler of man, take him for an example; then why shouldn't you or others?
In any assembly where there are discourses about saints and devotees, O King Yudhishthhira, even the enemies of the demons, namely the demigods, what to speak of you, would cite Prahlâda Mahârâja as an example of a great devotee. (Vedabase)
The greatness of the countless qualities of him who is known for his natural attachment to Vâsudeva, the Supreme Lord, defies all description.
Who could list the innumerable transcendental qualities of Prahlâda Mahârâja? He had unflinching faith in Vâsudeva, Lord Krishna [the son of Vasudeva], and unalloyed devotion to Him. His attachment to Lord Krishna was natural because of his previous devotional service. Although his good qualities cannot be enumerated, they prove that he was a great soul [mahâtmâ]. (Vedabase)
As a boy having forsaken all child play seemed he to be listless, fully absorbed with his mind in the world of Krishna as he was; completely of that attraction was he not interested in the ways of the world.
From the very beginning of his childhood, Prahlâda Mahârâja was uninterested in childish playthings. Indeed, he gave them up altogether and remained silent and dull, being fully absorbed in Krishna consciousness. Since his mind was always affected by Krishna consciousness, he could not understand how the world goes on being fully absorbed in the activities of sense gratification. (Vedabase)
As he sat and walked, ate and lied down, drank or talked, was he, embraced by Govinda, impervious to anything that went on outside of it.
Prahlâda Mahârâja was always absorbed in thought of Krishna. Thus, being always embraced by the Lord, he did not know how his bodily necessities, such as sitting, walking, eating, lying down, drinking and talking, were being automatically performed. (Vedabase)
Sometimes he cried thinking of Vaikunthha, sometimes he laughed to the follies of the mind and sometimes chanted he thinking of Him gladly, very loud.
Because of advancement in Krishna consciousness, he sometimes cried, sometimes laughed, sometimes expressed jubilation and sometimes sang loudly. (Vedabase)
Sometimes he exclaimed anxiously, sometimes without shame he danced and sometimes did he, lost in thoughts about Him, imitate him thinking to be Him.
Sometimes, upon seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Prahlâda Mahârâja would loudly call in full anxiety. He sometimes lost his shyness in jubilation and began dancing in ecstasy, and sometimes, being fully absorbed in thoughts of Krishna, he felt oneness and imitated the pastimes of the Lord. (Vedabase)
At times with his hair standing on end and his half closed eyes filled with tears, fell he completely silent rapt with joy being caught in His loving association of transcendental bliss.
Sometimes, feeling the touch of the Lord's lotus hands, he became spiritually jubilant and remained silent, his hairs standing on end and tears gliding down from his half-closed eyes because of his love for the Lord. (Vedabase)
He by his constant service to the lotus feet as glorified in the hymns, obtained of expanding on the association with the liberated the highest ecstasy, bestowing constantly from the spiritual soul peace upon the ones poor in spirit and association.
Because of his association with perfect, unalloyed devotees who had nothing to do with anything material, Prahlâda Mahârâja constantly engaged in the service of the Lord's lotus feet. By seeing his bodily features when he was in perfect ecstasy, persons very poor in spiritual understanding became purified. In other words, Prahlâda Mahârâja bestowed upon them transcendental bliss. (Vedabase)
Unto him that exalted and most fortunate broad minded devotee, o King, who was his own son, committed Hiranyakas'ipu the greatest sin.
My dear King Yudhishthhira, the demon Hiranyakas'ipu tormented this exalted, fortunate devotee, although Prahlâda was his own son. (Vedabase)
S'rî Yudhishthhira said: 'O saint of God vowed to the best, we would like to know from you the following: how could the father give his own son, such a saint of purity and goodness, any trouble?'
Mahârâja Yudhishthhira said: O best of the saints among the demigods, O best of spiritual leaders, how did Hiranyakas'ipu give so much trouble to Prahlâda Mahârâja, the pure and exalted saint, although Prahlâda was his own son? I wish to know about this subject from you. (Vedabase)
Sons going against the will of their fathers are chastised out of love. For the sake of their education, they can't be punished like an enemy, can they?
A father and mother are always affectionate to their children. When the children are disobedient the parents chastise them, not due to enmity but only for the child's instruction and welfare. How did Hiranyakas'ipu, the father of Prahlâda Mahârâja, chastise such a noble son? This is what I am eager to know. (Vedabase)
Please dissipate the doubts we have, o brahmin, about this father being so mean in hating to the point of death his own so very obedient son, a great devotee of the sort that honors his father as his guru, o master.'
Mahârâja Yudhishthhira further inquired: How was it possible for a father to be so violent toward an exalted son who was obedient, well-behaved and respectful to his father? O brâhmana, O master, I have never heard of such a contradiction as an affectionate father's punishing his noble son with the intention of killing him. Kindly dissipate our doubts in this regard. (Vedabase)
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