Prahlada was put into so many difficulties by his father, but he had faith in the mercy of the Lord. The five-year-old boy was convinced that Lord is always going to protect him if he remains under the shelter of the Lord.
When Hiranyakashipu, the demon king, got the boon of almost being immortal in the world then little did he realize that his authority will be challenged by a five-year-old boy who will be his own son.
Prahlada gave good advice to his father but Hiranyakashipu whose heart was filled with hatred for Lord Vishnu did not like the advice. Prahlada did not dislike his father, but he wanted to show him the reality. Sometimes when a doctor administers a bitter pill to the patient then it is not that the doctor dislikes the patient. He just wants to cure the patient.
Everyone wants to become God
Hiranyakashipu thought he is God. His madness did not end here, he believed that he can kill Lord Vishnu. Any sane man i.e. any devotee of the Lord will laugh at this proposition. Its like a rat dreaming of killing a lion.
Prahlada had compassion for his father. He begged him to give up his stubbornness and accept that he is not God, he cannot be God, and he will always remain subordinate to God.
One of the biggest diseases in this world is the desire to become God and act like God.
The materialists try to enjoy like God, the yogis meditate to get the power like God and the Mayavadis want to merge into God so that they can become God.
And everyone for sure always fail in their endeavour. Hiranyakashipu too failed.
But one question we may have is that how a five-year-old boy can challenge the mighty king whom he even demigods feared? It was because Prahlada was completely convinced about his true identity that he is a soul, part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. And his understanding wasn’t theoretical.
He realized the Lord within his heart too. This is why when children of his age were busy playing, he was experiencing joy in chanting and singing the names of the Lord.
Hearing about the Lord deepens the faith in the mercy of the Lord
The soul being pleasure seeking always looks for pleasure. And the topmost pleasure comes in chanting the names of the Lord.
Prahlada gained this understanding by the grace of sage Narada who recited Bhagavatam when he was in the womb of his mother, Kayadu. The soul is always active whether inside the womb or outside the womb.
The name, form and glory of the Lord which fortunate Prahlada heard from Narada penetrated his heart, and he understood his eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord.
Sravanam i.e. hearing from the devotees of the Lord is of great importance. Hearing enlightens us by removing our ignorance and connect us to the Supreme Lord.
Parikshit Maharaja attained perfection by hearing Srimad Bhagavatam from Sukhadeva Goswami. Srila Prabhupada was also eager to hear. When in Vrindavan he had an option to go and see the deity of Śeṣaśāyī Viṣṇu or listen from his guru, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, then Prabhupada chose to hear Krishna katha.
Little Prahlada developed deep faith in the mercy and protection of the Lord by hearing about the Lord. And the Lord did not disappoint him. Lord Vishnu always protected him and appeared as Lord Narasimhadev to eliminate Hiranyakashipu who was trying to torture and kill him.
Three Reflections
- One of the biggest diseases in this world is the desire to become God and act like God.
- The topmost pleasure comes in chanting and hearing the names of the Lord.
- Prahlada developed deep faith in the mercy and protection of the Lord by continuously hearing about the Lord.
Ask Yourself
- Do I have faith in the mercy of the Lord?
Action Items
- List down three instances when you found yourself helpless but when you prayed to Lord then you were miraculously protected by the Lord.
