Chapter 4: Hiraṇyakaśipu Terrorizes the Universe

 

7.4.1

śrī-nārada uvāca

evaḿ vṛtaḥ śata-dhṛtir

hiraṇyakaśipor atha

prādāt tat-tapasā prīto

varāḿs tasya sudurlabhān

 

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada Muni said; evam — thus; vṛtaḥ — solicited; śata-dhṛtiḥ — Lord Brahmā; hiraṇyakaśipoḥ — of Hiraṇyakaśipu; atha — then; prādāt — delivered; tat — his; tapasā — by the difficult austerities; prītaḥ — being pleased; varān — benedictions; tasya — unto Hiraṇyakaśipu; su-durlabhān — very rarely obtained.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nārada Muni continued: Lord Brahmā was very much satisfied by Hiraṇyakaśipu's austerities, which were difficult to perform. Therefore, when solicited for benedictions, he indeed granted them, although they were rarely to be achieved.

 

7.4.2

śrī-brahmovāca

tāteme durlabhāḥ puḿsāḿ

yān vṛṇīṣe varān mama

tathāpi vitarāmy ańga

varān yadyapi durlabhān

 

śrī-brahmā uvāca — Lord Brahmā said; tāta — O dear son; ime — all these; durlabhāḥ — very rarely obtained; puḿsām — by men; yān — those which; vṛṇīṣe — you ask; varān — benedictions; mama — from me; tathāpi — still; vitarāmi — I shall deliver; ańga — O Hiraṇyakaśipu; varān — the benedictions; yadyapi — although; durlabhān — not generally available.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Brahmā said: O Hiraṇyakaśipu, 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.

 

7.4.3

tato jagāma bhagavān

amoghānugraho vibhuḥ

pūjito 'sura-varyeṇa

stūyamānaḥ prajeśvaraiḥ

 

tataḥ — thereafter; jagāma — departed; bhagavān — the most powerful, Lord Brahmā; amogha — without failure; anugrahaḥ — whose benediction; vibhuḥ — the Supreme within this universe; pūjitaḥ — being worshiped; asura-varyeṇa — by the most exalted demon (Hiraṇyakaśipu); stūyamānaḥ — being praised; prajā-īśvaraiḥ — by many demigods, the masters of different regions.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then Lord Brahmā, who awards infallible benedictions, departed, being worshiped by the best of the demons, Hiraṇyakaśipu, and being praised by great sages and saintly persons.

 

7.4.4

evaḿ labdha-varo daityo

bibhrad dhemamayaḿ vapuḥ

bhagavaty akarod dveṣaḿ

bhrātur vadham anusmaran

 

evam — thus; labdha-varaḥ — having obtained his desired boon; daityaḥ — Hiraṇyakaśipu; bibhrat — acquiring; hema-mayam — possessing the luster of gold; vapuḥ — a body; bhagavati — unto Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; akarot — maintained; dveṣam — envy; bhrātuḥ vadham — the killing of his brother; anusmaran — always thinking of.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The demon Hiraṇyakaśipu, having thus been blessed by Lord Brahmā and having acquired a lustrous golden body, continued to remember the death of his brother and therefore be envious of Lord Viṣṇu.

 

7.4.5-7

sa vijitya diśaḥ sarvā

lokāḿś ca trīn mahāsuraḥ

devāsura-manuṣyendra-

gandharva-garuḍoragān

 

siddha-cāraṇa-vidyādhrān

ṛṣīn pitṛ-patīn manūn

yakṣa-rakṣaḥ-piśāceśān

preta-bhūta-patīn api

 

sarva-sattva-patīñ jitvā

vaśam ānīya viśva-jit

jahāra loka-pālānāḿ

sthānāni saha tejasā

 

saḥ — he (Hiraṇyakaśipu); vijitya — conquering; diśaḥ — the directions; sarvāḥ — all; lokān — planetary systems; ca — and; trīn — three (upper, lower and middle); mahā-asuraḥ — the great demon; deva — the demigods; asura — the demons; manuṣya — of the human beings; indra — the kings; gandharva — the Gandharvas; garuḍa — the Garuḍas; uragān — the great serpents;

 

siddha — the Siddhas; cāraṇa — the Cāraṇas; vidyādhrān — the Vidyādharas; ṛṣīn — the great sages and saintly persons; pitṛ-patīn — Yamarāja and the other leaders of the Pitās; manūn — all the different Manus; yakṣa — the Yakṣas; rakṣaḥ — the Rākṣasas; piśāca-īśān — the leaders of Piśācaloka; preta — of the Pretas; bhūta — and of the Bhūtas; patīn — the masters; api — also;

 

sarva-sattva-patīn — the masters of all the different planets; jitvā — conquering; vaśam ānīya — bringing under control; viśva-jit — the conqueror of the whole universe; jahāra — usurped; loka-pālānām — of the demigods who manage the universal affairs; sthānāni — the places; saha — with; tejasā — all their power.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Hiraṇyakaśipu 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 Garuḍas, the great serpents, the Siddhas, Cāraṇas and Vidyādharas, the great saints, Yamarāja, the Manus, the Yakṣas, the Rākṣasas, the Piśācas and their masters, and the masters of the ghosts and Bhūtas. 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.

 

7.4.8

devodyāna-śriyā juṣṭam

adhyāste sma tri-piṣṭapam

mahendra-bhavanaḿ sākṣān

nirmitaḿ viśvakarmaṇā

trailokya-lakṣmy-āyatanam

adhyuvāsākhilarddhimat

 

deva-udyāna — of the famous garden of the demigods; śriyā — by the opulences; juṣṭam — enriched; adhyāste sma — remained in; tri-piṣṭapam — the higher planetary system, where various demigods live; mahendra-bhavanam — the palace of Indra, the King of heaven; sākṣāt — directly; nirmitam — constructed; viśvakarmaṇā — by the famous architect of the demigods, Viśvakarmā; trailokya — of all the three worlds; lakṣmī-āyatanam — the residence of the goddess of fortune; adhyuvāsa — lived in; akhila-ṛddhi-mat — possessing the opulence of the entire universe.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Hiraṇyakaśipu, 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 Viśvakarmā and was as beautifully made as if the goddess of fortune of the entire universe resided there.

 

7.4.9-12

yatra vidruma-sopānā

mahā-mārakatā bhuvaḥ

yatra sphāṭika-kuḍyāni

vaidūrya-stambha-pańktayaḥ

 

yatra citra-vitānāni

padmarāgāsanāni ca

payaḥ-phena-nibhāḥ śayyā

muktādāma-paricchadāḥ

 

kūjadbhir nūpurair devyaḥ

śabda-yantya itas tataḥ

ratna-sthalīṣu paśyanti

sudatīḥ sundaraḿ mukham

 

tasmin mahendra-bhavane mahā-balo

mahā-manā nirjita-loka eka-rāṭ

reme 'bhivandyāńghri-yugaḥ surādibhiḥ

pratāpitair ūrjita-caṇḍa-śāsanaḥ

 

yatra — where (the residential quarters of King Indra); vidruma-sopānāḥ — steps made of coral; mahā-mārakatāḥ — emerald; bhuvaḥ — floors; yatra — where; sphāṭika — crystal; kuḍyāni — walls; vaidūrya — of vaidūrya stone; stambha — of pillars; pańktayaḥ — lines;

 

yatra — where; citra — wonderful; vitānāni — canopies; padmarāga — bedecked with rubies; āsanāni — seats; ca — also; payaḥ — of milk; phena — the foam; nibhāḥ — just like; śayyāḥ — beds; muktādāma — of pearls; paricchadāḥ — having borders;

 

kūjadbhiḥ — jingling; nūpuraiḥ — with ankle bells; devyaḥ — celestial ladies; śabda-yantyaḥ — making sweet vibrations; itaḥ tataḥ — here and there; ratna-sthalīṣu — in places bedecked with jewels and gems; paśyanti — see; su-datīḥ — having nice teeth; sundaram — very beautiful; mukham — faces;

 

tasmin — in that; mahendra-bhavane — the residential quarters of the heavenly King; mahā-balaḥ — the most powerful; mahā-manāḥ — highly thoughtful; nirjita-lokaḥ — having everyone under his control; eka-rāṭ — the powerful dictator; reme — enjoyed; abhivandya — worshiped; ańghri-yugaḥ — whose two feet; sura-ādibhiḥ — by the demigods; pratāpitaiḥ — being disturbed; ūrjita — more than expected; caṇḍa — severe; śāsanaḥ — whose ruling.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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 vaidūrya 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 Hiraṇyakaśipu, who chastised the demigods very severely and for no reason. Thus Hiraṇyakaśipu lived in the palace and severely ruled everyone.

 

7.4.13

tam ańga mattaḿ madhunoru-gandhinā

vivṛtta-tāmrākṣam aśeṣa-dhiṣṇya-pāḥ

upāsatopāyana-pāṇibhir vinā

tribhis tapo-yoga-balaujasāḿ padam

 

tam — him (Hiraṇyakaśipu); ańga — O dear King; mattam — intoxicated; madhunā — by wine; uru-gandhinā — strong-smelling; vivṛtta — rolling; tāmra-akṣam — having eyes like copper; aśeṣa-dhiṣṇya-pāḥ — the principal men of all the planets; upāsata — worshiped; upāyana — full with paraphernalia; pāṇibhiḥ — by their own hands; vinā — without; tribhiḥ — the three principal deities (Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva); tapaḥ — of austerity; yoga — mystic power; bala — bodily strength; ojasām — and power of the senses; padam — the abode.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my dear King, Hiraṇyakaśipu 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 Brahmā, Lord Śiva and Lord Viṣṇu — personally worshiped him to please him by bringing him various presentations with their own hands.

 

7.4.14

jagur mahendrāsanam ojasā sthitaḿ

viśvāvasus tumburur asmad-ādayaḥ

gandharva-siddhā ṛṣayo 'stuvan muhur

vidyādharāś cāpsarasaś ca pāṇḍava

 

jaguḥ — sung of the glories; mahendra-āsanam — the throne of King Indra; ojasā — by personal power; sthitam — situated on; viśvāvasuḥ — the chief singer of the Gandharvas; tumburuḥ — another Gandharva singer; asmat-ādayaḥ — including ourselves (Nārada and others also glorified Hiraṇyakaśipu); gandharva — the inhabitants of Gandharva-loka; siddhāḥ — the inhabitants of Siddhaloka; ṛṣayaḥ — the great sages and saintly persons; astuvan — offered prayers; muhuḥ — again and again; vidyādharāḥ — the inhabitants of Vidyādhara-loka; ca — and; apsarasaḥ — the inhabitants of Apsaroloka; ca — and; pāṇḍava — O descendant of Pāṇḍu.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, descendant of Pāṇḍu, by dint of his personal power, Hiraṇyakaśipu, being situated on the throne of King Indra, controlled the inhabitants of all the other planets. The two Gandharvas Viśvāvasu and Tumburu, I myself and the Vidyādharas, Apsarās and sages all offered prayers to him again and again just to glorify him.

 

7.4.15

sa eva varṇāśramibhiḥ

kratubhir bhūri-dakṣiṇaiḥ

ijyamāno havir-bhāgān

agrahīt svena tejasā

 

saḥ — he (Hiraṇyakaśipu); eva — indeed; varṇa-āśramibhiḥ — by persons who strictly followed the regulative principles of the four varṇas and four āśramas; kratubhiḥ — by ritualistic ceremonies; bhūri — abundant; dakṣiṇaiḥ — offered with gifts; ijyamānaḥ — being worshiped; haviḥ-bhāgān — the portions of the oblations; agrahīt — usurped; svena — by his own; tejasā — prowess.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Being worshiped by sacrifices offered with great gifts by those who strictly followed the principles of varṇa and āśrama, Hiraṇyakaśipu, instead of offering shares of the oblations to the demigods, accepted them himself.

 

7.4.16

akṛṣṭa-pacyā tasyāsīt

sapta-dvīpavatī mahī

tathā kāma-dughā gāvo

nānāścarya-padaḿ nabhaḥ

 

akṛṣṭa-pacyā — bearing grains without being cultivated or plowed; tasya — of Hiraṇyakaśipu; āsīt — was; sapta-dvīpa-vatī — consisting of seven islands; mahī — the earth; tathā — so much so; kāma-dughāḥ — which can deliver as much milk as one desires; gāvaḥ — cows; nānā — various; āścarya-padam — wonderful things; nabhaḥ — the sky.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As if in fear of Hiraṇyakaśipu, 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 kāma-dughā of heaven. The earth yielded sufficient food grains, the cows supplied abundant milk, and outer space was beautifully decorated with wonderful phenomena.

 

7.4.17

ratnākarāś ca ratnaughāḿs

tat-patnyaś cohur ūrmibhiḥ

kṣāra-sīdhu-ghṛta-kṣaudra-

dadhi-kṣīrāmṛtodakāḥ

 

ratnākarāḥ — the seas and oceans; ca — and; ratna-oghān — various kinds of gems and valuable stones; tat-patnyaḥ — the wives of the oceans and seas, namely the rivers; ca — also; ūhuḥ — carried; ūrmibhiḥ — by their waves; kṣāra — the salt ocean; sīdhu — the ocean of wine; ghṛta — the ocean of clarified butter; kṣaudra — the ocean of sugarcane juice; dadhi — the ocean of yogurt; kṣīra — the ocean of milk; amṛta — and the very sweet ocean; udakāḥ — water.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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 Hiraṇyakaśipu's use. These oceans were the oceans of salt water, sugarcane juice, wine, clarified butter, milk, yogurt, and sweet water.

 

7.4.18

śailā droṇībhir ākrīḍaḿ

sarvartuṣu guṇān drumāḥ

dadhāra loka-pālānām

eka eva pṛthag guṇān

 

śailāḥ — the hills and mountains; droṇībhiḥ — with the valleys between them; ākrīḍam — pleasure grounds for Hiraṇyakaśipu; sarva — all; ṛtuṣu — in the seasons of the year; guṇān — different qualities (fruits and flowers); drumāḥ — the plants and trees; dadhāra — executed; loka-pālānām — of the other demigods in charge of different departments of natural activity; ekaḥ — alone; eva — indeed; pṛthak — different; guṇān — qualities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The valleys between the mountains became fields of pleasure for Hiraṇyakaśipu, 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, Vāyu and Agni — were all directed by Hiraṇyakaśipu alone, without assistance from the demigods.

 

7.4.19

sa itthaḿ nirjita-kakub

eka-rāḍ viṣayān priyān

yathopajoṣaḿ bhuñjāno

nātṛpyad ajitendriyaḥ

 

saḥ — he (Hiraṇyakaśipu); ittham — thus; nirjita — conquered; kakup — all directions within the universe; eka-rāṭ — the one emperor of the whole universe; viṣayān — material sense objects; priyān — very pleasing; yathā-upajoṣam — as much as possible; bhuñjānaḥ — enjoying; na — did not; atṛpyat — was satisfied; ajita-indriyaḥ — being unable to control the senses.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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, Hiraṇyakaśipu was dissatisfied because instead of controlling his senses he remained their servant.

 

7.4.20

evam aiśvarya-mattasya

dṛptasyocchāstra-vartinaḥ

kālo mahān vyatīyāya

brahma-śāpam upeyuṣaḥ

 

evam — thus; aiśvarya-mattasya — of one who was intoxicated by opulences; dṛptasya — greatly proud; ut-śāstra-vartinaḥ — transgressing the regulative principles mentioned in the śāstras; kālaḥ — duration of time; mahān — a great; vyatīyāya — passed; brahma-śāpam — a curse by exalted brāhmaṇas; upeyuṣaḥ — having obtained.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Hiraṇyakaśipu thus passed a long time being very much proud of his opulences and transgressing the laws and regulations mentioned in the authoritative śāstras. He was therefore subjected to a curse by the four Kumāras, who were great brāhmaṇas.

 

7.4.21

tasyogra-daṇḍa-saḿvignāḥ

sarve lokāḥ sapālakāḥ

anyatrālabdha-śaraṇāḥ

śaraṇaḿ yayur acyutam

 

tasya — of him (Hiraṇyakaśipu); ugra-daṇḍa — by the very fearful chastisement; saḿvignāḥ — disturbed; sarve — all; lokāḥ — the planets; sa-pālakāḥ — with their principal rulers; anyatra — anywhere else; alabdha — not obtaining; śaraṇāḥ — shelter; śaraṇam — for shelter; yayuḥ — approached; acyutam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Everyone, including the rulers of the various planets, was extremely distressed because of the severe punishment inflicted upon them by Hiraṇyakaśipu. Fearful and disturbed, unable to find any other shelter, they at last surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu.

 

7.4.22-23

tasyai namo 'stu kāṣṭhāyai

yatrātmā harir īśvaraḥ

yad gatvā na nivartante

śāntāḥ sannyāsino 'malāḥ

 

iti te saḿyatātmānaḥ

samāhita-dhiyo 'malāḥ

upatasthur hṛṣīkeśaḿ

vinidrā vāyu-bhojanāḥ

 

tasyai — unto that; namaḥ — our respectful obeisances; astu — let there be; kāṣṭhāyai — direction; yatra — wherein; ātmā — the Supersoul; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; īśvaraḥ — the supreme controller; yat — which; gatvā — approaching; na — never; nivartante — return; śāntāḥ — peaceful; sannyāsinaḥ — saintly persons in the renounced order of life; amalāḥ — pure;

 

iti — thus; te — they; saḿyata-ātmānaḥ — having controlled minds; samāhita — steadied; dhiyaḥ — intelligences; amalāḥ — purified; upatasthuḥ — worshiped; hṛṣīkeśam — the master of the senses; vinidrāḥ — without sleeping; vāyu-bhojanāḥ — eating only air.

 

TRANSLATION

 

"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 Hṛṣīkeśa with this meditation.

 

7.4.24

teṣām āvirabhūd vāṇī

arūpā megha-niḥsvanā

sannādayantī kakubhaḥ

sādhūnām abhayańkarī

 

teṣām — in front of all of them; āvirabhūt — appeared; vāṇī — a voice; arūpā — without a form; megha-niḥsvanā — resounding like the sound of a cloud; sannādayantī — causing to vibrate; kakubhaḥ — all directions; sādhūnām — of the saintly persons; abhayańkarī — driving away the fearful situation.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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.

 

7.4.25-26

mā bhaiṣṭa vibudha-śreṣṭhāḥ

sarveṣāḿ bhadram astu vaḥ

mad-darśanaḿ hi bhūtānāḿ

sarva-śreyopapattaye

 

jñātam etasya daurātmyaḿ

daiteyāpasadasya yat

tasya śāntiḿ kariṣyāmi

kālaḿ tāvat pratīkṣata

 

mā — do not; bhaiṣṭa — fear; vibudha-śreṣṭhāḥ — O best of learned persons; sarveṣām — of all; bhadram — the good fortune; astu — let there be; vaḥ — unto you; mat-darśanam — the seeing of Me (or offering of prayers to Me or hearing about Me, all of which are absolute); hi — indeed; bhūtānām — of all living entities; sarva-śreya — of all good fortune; upapattaye — for the attainment;

 

jñātam — known; etasya — of this; daurātmyam — the nefarious activities; daiteya-apasadasya — of the great demon, Hiraṇyakaśipu; yat — which; tasya — of this; śāntim — cessation; kariṣyāmi — I shall make; kālam — time; tāvat — until that; pratīkṣata — just wait.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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 Hiraṇyakaśipu and shall surely stop them very soon. Please wait patiently until that time.

 

7.4.27

yadā deveṣu vedeṣu

goṣu vipreṣu sādhuṣu

dharme mayi ca vidveṣaḥ

sa vā āśu vinaśyati

 

yadā — when; deveṣu — unto the demigods; vedeṣu — unto the Vedic scriptures; goṣu — unto the cows; vipreṣu — unto the brāhmaṇas; sādhuṣu — unto the saintly persons; dharme — unto religious principles; mayi — unto Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ca — and; vidveṣaḥ — envious; saḥ — such a person; vai — indeed; āśu — very soon; vinaśyati — is vanquished.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When one is envious of the demigods, who represent the Supreme Personality of Godhead, of the Vedas, which give all knowledge, of the cows, brāhmaṇas, Vaiṣṇavas and religious principles, and ultimately of Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he and his civilization will be vanquished without delay.

 

7.4.28

nirvairāya praśāntāya

sva-sutāya mahātmane

prahrādāya yadā druhyed

dhaniṣye 'pi varorjitam

 

nirvairāya — who is without enemies; praśāntāya — very sober and peaceful; sva-sutāya — unto his own son; mahā-ātmane — who is a great devotee; prahrādāya — Prahlāda Mahārāja; yadā — when; druhyet — will commit violence; haniṣye — I shall kill; api — although; vara-ūrjitam — blessed by the boons of Lord Brahmā.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When Hiraṇyakaśipu teases the great devotee Prahlāda, his own son, who is peaceful and sober and who has no enemy, I shall kill Hiraṇyakaśipu immediately, despite the benedictions of Brahmā.

 

7.4.29

śrī-nārada uvāca

ity uktā loka-guruṇā

taḿ praṇamya divaukasaḥ

nyavartanta gatodvegā

menire cāsuraḿ hatam

 

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — the great saint Nārada Muni said; iti — thus; uktāḥ — addressed; loka-guruṇā — by the supreme spiritual master of everyone; tam — unto Him; praṇamya — offering obeisances; divaukasaḥ — all the demigods; nyavartanta — returned; gata-udvegāḥ — relieved of all anxieties; menire — they considered; ca — also; asuram — the demon (Hiraṇyakaśipu); hatam — killed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great saint Nārada 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 Hiraṇyakaśipu was now practically dead.

 

7.4.30

tasya daitya-pateḥ putrāś

catvāraḥ paramādbhutāḥ

prahrādo 'bhūn mahāḿs teṣāḿ

guṇair mahad-upāsakaḥ

 

tasya — of him (Hiraṇyakaśipu); daitya-pateḥ — the King of the Daityas; putrāḥ — sons; catvāraḥ — four; parama-adbhutāḥ — very qualified and wonderful; prahrādaḥ — the one named Prahlāda; abhūt — was; mahān — the greatest; teṣām — of all of them; guṇaiḥ — with transcendental qualities; mahat-upāsakaḥ — being an unalloyed devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Hiraṇyakaśipu had four wonderful, well-qualified sons, of whom the one named Prahlāda was the best. Indeed, Prahlāda was a reservoir of all transcendental qualities because he was an unalloyed devotee of the Personality of Godhead.

 

7.4.31-32

brahmaṇyaḥ śīla-sampannaḥ

satya-sandho jitendriyaḥ

ātmavat sarva-bhūtānām

eka-priya-suhṛttamaḥ

dāsavat sannatāryāńghriḥ

 

pitṛvad dīna-vatsalaḥ

bhrātṛvat sadṛśe snigdho

guruṣv īśvara-bhāvanaḥ

vidyārtha-rūpa-janmāḍhyo

māna-stambha-vivarjitaḥ

 

brahmaṇyaḥ — cultured as a good brāhmaṇa; śīla-sampannaḥ — possessing all good qualities; satya-sandhaḥ — determined to understand the Absolute Truth; jita-indriyaḥ — fully controlling the senses and mind; ātma-vat — like the Supersoul; sarva-bhūtānām — of all living entities; eka-priya — the one beloved; suhṛt-tamaḥ — the best friend; dāsa-vat — like a menial servant; sannata — always obedient; ārya-ańghriḥ — at the lotus feet of great persons;

 

pitṛ-vat — exactly like a father; dīna-vatsalaḥ — kind to the poor; bhrātṛ-vat — exactly like a brother; sadṛśe — to his equals; snigdhaḥ — very affectionate; guruṣu — unto the spiritual masters; īśvara-bhāvanaḥ — who considered exactly like the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vidyā — education; artha — riches; rūpa — beauty; janma — aristocracy or nobility; āḍhyaḥ — endowed with; māna — pride; stambha — impudence; vivarjitaḥ — completely free from.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[The qualities of Mahārāja Prahlāda, the son of Hiraṇyakaśipu, are described herewith.] He was completely cultured as a qualified brāhmaṇa, 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.

 

7.4.33

nodvigna-citto vyasaneṣu niḥspṛhaḥ

śruteṣu dṛṣṭeṣu guṇeṣv avastu-dṛk

dāntendriya-prāṇa-śarīra-dhīḥ sadā

praśānta-kāmo rahitāsuro 'suraḥ

 

na — not; udvigna — agitated; cittaḥ — whose consciousness; vyasaneṣu — in dangerous conditions; niḥspṛhaḥ — without desire; śruteṣu — in things heard of (especially elevation to heavenly planets because of pious activities); dṛṣṭeṣu — as well as in temporal things seen; guṇeṣu — the objects of sense gratification under the modes of material nature; avastu-dṛk — seeing as if insubstantial; dānta — controlling; indriya — the senses; prāṇa — the living force; śarīra — the body; dhīḥ — and intelligence; sadā — always; praśānta — quieted; kāmaḥ — whose material desires; rahita — completely devoid of; asuraḥ — demoniac nature; asuraḥ — although born in a demoniac family.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Although Prahlāda Mahārāja was born in a family of asuras, he himself was not an asura but a great devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. Unlike the other asuras, he was never envious of Vaiṣṇavas. 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.

 

7.4.34

yasmin mahad-guṇā rājan

gṛhyante kavibhir muhuḥ

na te 'dhunā pidhīyante

yathā bhagavatīśvare

 

yasmin — in whom; mahat-guṇāḥ — exalted transcendental qualities; rājan — O King; gṛhyante — are glorified; kavibhiḥ — by persons who are thoughtful and advanced in knowledge; muhuḥ — always; na — not; te — these; adhunā — today; pidhīyante — are obscured; yathā — just as; bhagavati — in the Supreme Personality of Godhead; īśvare — the supreme controller.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King, Prahlāda Mahārāja's good qualities are still glorified by learned saints and Vaiṣṇavas. As all good qualities are always found existing in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they also exist forever in His devotee Prahlāda Mahārāja.

 

7.4.35

yaḿ sādhu-gāthā-sadasi

ripavo 'pi surā nṛpa

pratimānaḿ prakurvanti

kim utānye bhavādṛśāḥ

 

yam — whom; sādhu-gāthā-sadasi — in an assembly where saintly persons gather or exalted characteristics are discussed; ripavaḥ — persons who were supposed to have been Prahlāda Mahārāja's enemies (even such a devotee as Prahlāda Mahārāja had enemies, including even his own father); api — even; surāḥ — the demigods (the demigods are enemies of the demons, and since Prahlāda Mahārāja was born in a family of demons, the demigods should have been his enemies); nṛpa — O King Yudhiṣṭhira; pratimānam — a substantial example of the best among the devotees; prakurvanti — they make; kim uta — what to speak of; anye — others; bhavādṛśāḥ — exalted personalities such as yourself.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In any assembly where there are discourses about saints and devotees, O King Yudhiṣṭhira, even the enemies of the demons, namely the demigods, what to speak of you, would cite Prahlāda Mahārāja as an example of a great devotee.

 

7.4.36

guṇair alam asańkhyeyair

māhātmyaḿ tasya sūcyate

vāsudeve bhagavati

yasya naisargikī ratiḥ

 

guṇaiḥ — with spiritual qualities; alam — what need; asańkhyeyaiḥ — which are innumerable; māhātmyam — the greatness; tasya — of him (Prahlāda Mahārāja); sūcyate — is indicated; vāsudeve — to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vasudeva; bhagavati — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yasya — of whom; naisargikī — natural; ratiḥ — attachment.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Who could list the innumerable transcendental qualities of Prahlāda Mahārāja? He had unflinching faith in Vāsudeva, Lord Kṛṣṇa [the son of Vasudeva], and unalloyed devotion to Him. His attachment to Lord Kṛṣṇa was natural because of his previous devotional service. Although his good qualities cannot be enumerated, they prove that he was a great soul [mahātmā].

 

7.4.37

nyasta-krīḍanako bālo

jaḍavat tan-manastayā

kṛṣṇa-graha-gṛhītātmā

na veda jagad īdṛśam

 

nyasta — having given up; krīḍanakaḥ — all sportive activities or tendencies for childhood play; bālaḥ — a boy; jaḍa-vat — as if dull, without activities; tat-manastayā — by being fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇa-graha — by Kṛṣṇa, who is like a strong influence (like a graha, or planetary influence); gṛhīta-ātmā — whose mind was fully attracted; na — not; veda — understood; jagat — the entire material world; īdṛśam — like this.

 

TRANSLATION

 

From the very beginning of his childhood, Prahlāda Mahārāja was uninterested in childish playthings. Indeed, he gave them up altogether and remained silent and dull, being fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Since his mind was always affected by Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he could not understand how the world goes on being fully absorbed in the activities of sense gratification.

 

7.4.38

āsīnaḥ paryaṭann aśnan

śayānaḥ prapiban bruvan

nānusandhatta etāni

govinda-parirambhitaḥ

 

āsīnaḥ — while sitting; paryaṭan — while walking; aśnan — while eating; śayānaḥ — while lying down; prapiban — while drinking; bruvan — while talking; na — not; anusandhatte — knew; etāni — all these activities; govinda — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who enlivens the senses; parirambhitaḥ — being embraced.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Prahlāda Mahārāja was always absorbed in thought of Kṛṣṇa. 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.

 

7.4.39

kvacid rudati vaikuṇṭha-

cintā-śabala-cetanaḥ

kvacid dhasati tac-cintā-

hlāda udgāyati kvacit

 

kvacit — sometimes; rudati — cries; vaikuṇṭha-cintā — by thoughts of Kṛṣṇa; śabala-cetanaḥ — whose mind was bewildered; kvacit — sometimes; hasati — laughs; tat-cintā — by thoughts of Him; āhlādaḥ — being jubilant; udgāyati — chants very loudly; kvacit — sometimes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Because of advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he sometimes cried, sometimes laughed, sometimes expressed jubilation and sometimes sang loudly.

 

7.4.40

nadati kvacid utkaṇṭho

vilajjo nṛtyati kvacit

kvacit tad-bhāvanā-yuktas

tanmayo 'nucakāra ha

 

nadati — exclaims loudly (addressing the Lord, "O Kṛṣṇa"); kvacit — sometimes; utkaṇṭhaḥ — being anxious; vilajjaḥ — without shame; nṛtyati — he dances; kvacit — sometimes; kvacit — sometimes; tat-bhāvanā — with thoughts of Kṛṣṇa; yuktaḥ — being absorbed; tat-mayaḥ — thinking as if he had become Kṛṣṇa; anucakāra — imitated; ha — indeed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Sometimes, upon seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Prahlāda Mahārāja 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 Kṛṣṇa, he felt oneness and imitated the pastimes of the Lord.

 

7.4.41

kvacid utpulakas tūṣṇīm

āste saḿsparśa-nirvṛtaḥ

aspanda-praṇayānanda-

salilāmīlitekṣaṇaḥ

 

kvacit — sometimes; utpulakaḥ — with the hairs of his body standing on end; tūṣṇīm — completely silent; āste — remains; saḿsparśa-nirvṛtaḥ — feeling great joy by contact with the Lord; aspanda — steady; praṇaya-ānanda — due to transcendental bliss from a relationship of love; salila — filled with tears; āmīlita — half-closed; īkṣaṇaḥ — whose eyes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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.

 

7.4.42

sa uttama-śloka-padāravindayor

niṣevayākiñcana-sańga-labdhayā

tanvan parāḿ nirvṛtim ātmano muhur

duḥsańga-dīnasya manaḥ śamaḿ vyadhāt

 

saḥ — he (Prahlāda Mahārāja); uttama-śloka-pada-aravindayoḥ — to the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is worshiped by transcendental prayers; niṣevayā — by constant service; akiñcana — of devotees who have nothing to do with the material world; sańga — in the association; labdhayā — obtained; tanvan — expanding; parām — highest; nirvṛtim — bliss; ātmanaḥ — of the spirit soul; muhuḥ — constantly; duḥsańga-dīnasya — of a person poor in spiritual understanding due to bad association; manaḥ — the mind; śamam — peaceful; vyadhāt — made.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Because of his association with perfect, unalloyed devotees who had nothing to do with anything material, Prahlāda Mahārāja 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, Prahlāda Mahārāja bestowed upon them transcendental bliss.

 

7.4.43

tasmin mahā-bhāgavate

mahā-bhāge mahātmani

hiraṇyakaśipū rājann

akarod agham ātmaje

 

tasmin — unto him; mahā-bhāgavate — an exalted devotee of the Lord; mahā-bhāge — most fortunate; mahā-ātmani — whose mind was very broad; hiraṇyakaśipuḥ — the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu; rājan — O King; akarot — performed; agham — very great sin; ātma-je — to his own son.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear King Yudhiṣṭhira, the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu tormented this exalted, fortunate devotee, although Prahlāda was his own son.

 

7.4.44

śrī-yudhiṣṭhira uvāca

devarṣa etad icchāmo

vedituḿ tava suvrata

yad ātmajāya śuddhāya

pitādāt sādhave hy agham

 

śrī-yudhiṣṭhiraḥ uvāca — Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira inquired; deva-ṛṣe — O best saintly person among the demigods; etat — this; icchāmaḥ — we wish; veditum — to know; tava — from you; su-vrata — having the determination for spiritual advancement; yat — because; ātma-jāya — unto his own son; śuddhāya — who was pure and exalted; pitā — the father, Hiraṇyakaśipu; adāt — gave; sādhave — a great saint; hi — indeed; agham — trouble.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira said: O best of the saints among the demigods, O best of spiritual leaders, how did Hiraṇyakaśipu give so much trouble to Prahlāda Mahārāja, the pure and exalted saint, although Prahlāda was his own son? I wish to know about this subject from you.

 

7.4.45

putrān vipratikūlān svān

pitaraḥ putra-vatsalāḥ

upālabhante śikṣārthaḿ

naivāgham aparo yathā

 

putrān — sons; vipratikūlān — who act against the will of the father; svān — their own; pitaraḥ — fathers; putra-vatsalāḥ — being very affectionate to the children; upālabhante — chastise; śikṣa-artham — to teach them lessons; na — not; eva — indeed; agham — punishment; aparaḥ — an enemy; yathā — like.

 

TRANSLATION

 

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 Hiraṇyakaśipu, the father of Prahlāda Mahārāja, chastise such a noble son? This is what I am eager to know.

 

7.4.46

kim utānuvaśān sādhūḿs

tādṛśān guru-devatān

etat kautūhalaḿ brahmann

asmākaḿ vidhama prabho

pituḥ putrāya yad dveṣo

maraṇāya prayojitaḥ

 

kim uta — much less; anuvaśān — to obedient and perfect sons; sādhūn — great devotees; tādṛśān — of that sort; guru-devatān — honoring the father as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; etat — this; kautūhalam — doubt; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; asmākam — of us; vidhama — dissipate; prabho — O my lord; pituḥ — of the father; putrāya — unto the son; yat — which; dveṣaḥ — envy; maraṇāya — for killing; prayojitaḥ — applied.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira 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 brāhmaṇa, 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.