Chapter One
Saint Parāshar was once resting in his hermitage
Maitreya paid a visit to the Saint
Reading the mind of his guest, he related him
The tale of Prahlād and his unshakable devotion.
In the olden days Kashyap from his wife Diti had a son
With all rituals he was named Hiranyakashipu
Devoted to Brahma, he performed austerity valiantly
Brahma appeared before him, thanks to his extreme austerity.
“Now ask of me what you wish, for you have pleased me!”
No sooner had Brahma spoken than begged Kashipu
“O Brahma! If really pleased with me, grant me what I wish
By Thy grace, render me unchallenged in Heaven and Earth.
“I be not killed at the hands of gods, demons, celestial or mortal beings
I be not killed with any weapons and hands or any mantras
I be not killed during day or night, only between day and night
I be not killed on the ground nor in the sky; only this much, my Lord.”
Upon hearing Kashipu, Brahma pondered for a while
Feeling compelled, he was ready to fulfill his wishes
“You owe it to me, not appropriate, though
May all your wishes come true”; He declared and departed.
Following Brahma’s departure, Kashipu stood unchallenged
The wicked felt like ruling over all the three worlds
He took the place of Sun and ruled over all gods
He robbed Vāyu, Agni,Varun and Somas of their positions.
He robbed Kuber of his nine-stores of riches and created a turmoil
He robbed Yamarāj of his flag and the entire heaven quaked with terror
He snatched the share of gods offered to them in yagyas
Unleashed he grew and turned out to be everyone’s foe.
Envious of gods, he drove them away from Heaven to Earth
Helpless, they wandered around in the form of humans
Upon conquering all three worlds, he boasted on the riches
Cherishing the celestial music, Kashipu grew so proud and greedy.
As the gods, all lily-livered, fled from heaven
All the celestial singers and other beings were enslaved
Kashipu had a son named Prahlād, Lord Vishnu’ devotee
Kashipu was mud, his son Prahlād a lotus bud on it.
Pearls lie in the deep ocean and diamond hidden in the mine
Like the lotus blooming on the water, muddy and dirty
Prahlād was born in a family, all fallen and wretched
We are to be pleased and contented to see the wish of Almighty.
Kashipuonce summoned a guru who was ordered
To teach the shastras and scriptures to his son Prahlād
The guru returned with Prahlād and began his teaching
After some days with his disciple he stood before the king.
Prahlād bowed to Kashipu’s feet, thinking his father worthy of respect
Holding the son in his arms, Kashipu asked him then
“Tell me, whatever this guru of yours taught you, my son
Desperate I am to listen to all the shastras you have learned.
Upon hearing his father say so, thus spoke Prahlād
“Now, what I’m saying is the essence” then he detailed
“ Lord Vishnu, the essence of this universe, nothing else apart from Him,
I bow to Him day and night, for He is the only protector of the universe.”
O Maitreya! Kashipu’s lips begin to quiver to hear such words
He stared at the guru, his eyes glowing red with wrath
“O sinner! Did you teach him to pray to my foe too?
Are doing all this to make fun out of me?” He questioned.
Terrified of the demon’s words, the guru stepped ahead
“Majesty, this is not my teaching”, he stepped back again
As the guru pleaded ignorance bowing to the king
The suspicion was averted right away.
“What’s this guru saying?” Spoke Kashipu, his eyes on his son again
“Is there anyone who is teaching you such nonsense?”
Bringing a mild smile to his lips, thus spoke Prahlād-ji–
“This guru is not lying; it is not his teaching.
“How is the guru like this supposed to teach me such virtue–
The Brahman, yet ignorant of Lord Hari, and feeding himself is his only worry
How come you thought of such a Brahman teaching your dear son?
I’d rather teach myself lying in bed than follow such a worthless guru.
“Lord Vishnu is the only Guru who teaches me the lesson of virtue
He is the master of all, there is no one else to surpass the Guru.”
Having heard the praise of Vishnu from his own son
Kashipu went blind with wrath and blurted out with derision .
“Look at him! What nonsense is he talking with such a confidence?
Who else is there mightier than me? Vishnu? You show this to me”.
To his questions, Prahlād-ji replied his father curtly
“One cannot find Lord Vishnu so easily; so rare He is for you.
“Even saints fail to feel Lord Hari proper
The learned just feign to know Him
Renouncing all the worldly affairs, the sanyasis die for nothing
How are you going to know Hari-ji with a wicked heart like this?
The devotees who feel His presence in their hearts
Find Him all the time around them as their guard.”
“Which god are you talking about; where is he?”
Roared Hiranyakshipu– Is your god other than me?
That Prabhu-ji is not only mine– replied Prahlād-ji
“Even Brahma respects Him; He merits respect even from you
He is the Protector of all– I declare this for certain
You should be happy with me; show your anger for nothing”.
Such a satire from his own son boiled wrath in Hiranyakashipu
“The Wicked Vishnu has possessed you; what a sinner he has made you!”
He resides not only in my heart – Prahlād-ji replied him
“Master of all beings, He is pervasive, dwells in every being”.
While Prahlād was mocking him, anger almost killed Kashipu
“Drag this sinner out of my sight outright and take him to the guru’s
How evil he has grown; he’s like my foe, what shall I do?”
He commanded–He shall get proper training from his guru.
Thus was taken Prahlād to the guru’s again
And was forced to study with threat and thrashing,
Yet he remained quiet only to contemplate
The name of Lord Hari, without any study.
Tran: Bal Ram Adhikari