“’You said that He is indeed everywhere, so why can He not be seen in this pillar? If I do see that Vishnu right now in the middle of the pillar, then I will not kill you. Otherwise, you will be divided into two.’ Having seen (his father) in that way, Prahlada began to meditate on that Supreme Lord.” (Narasimha Purana, 44.10-11)

Download as podcast episode (right click and save)

त्वयोक्तं स हि सर्वत्र कस्मात् स्तम्भे न दृश्यते
यदि पश्यामि तं विष्णुम् अधुना स्तम्भमध्यगम्

तर्हि त्वां न वधिष्यामि भविष्यसि द्विधान्यथा
प्रह्लादो ऽपि तथा दृष्ट्वा दध्यौ तं परमेश्वरम्

tvayoktaṃ sa hi sarvatra kasmāt stambhe na dṛśyate
yadi paśyāmi taṃ viṣṇum adhunā stambhamadhyagam

tarhi tvāṃ na vadhiṣyāmi bhaviṣyasi dvidhānyathā
prahlādo ‘pi tathā dṛṣṭvā dadhyau taṃ parameśvaram

1. The person who insisted that Vishnu is sarvatra

This was the stance of Prahlada Maharaja. A crown prince, a child initially beloved, with the highest aspirations and expectations from the father, the boy presented himself like a seasoned scholar, ready to debate issues like a gentlemen. To view from a modern lens, we can imagine someone stepping up to the podium and giving a presentation from the heart. No notes. No teleprompter. No fumbling for the right words. As Prahlada was speaking about something he knew to be true, his speech was so profound that it happened to be later preserved in sacred texts like Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, and Narasimha Purana.

One point of insistence from Prahlada was the source of strength. You see, the father happened to be the most powerful person in the world at the time. At least this was the determination based on the vyakta, or that which can be seen. There was no one else stepping up to the plate. The rivals dared not utter a word, lest they risk the ire of the leader of the Daityas. Hiranyakashipu had something else going for him: boons of protection. These were bestowed by someone of his word, who is respected since time immemorial. Lord Brahma was the benefactor that assisted the rise of Hiranyakashipu to the heights of prominence and influence.

नान्तर्बहिर्दिवा नक्तमन्यस्मादपि चायुधै:
न भूमौ नाम्बरे मृत्युर्न नरैर्न मृगैरपि

nāntar bahir divā naktam
anyasmād api cāyudhaiḥ
na bhūmau nāmbare mṛtyur
na narair na mṛgair api

“Grant me that I not die within any residence or outside any residence, during the daytime or at night, nor on the ground or in the sky. Grant me that my death not be brought by any being other than those created by you, nor by any weapon, nor by any human being or animal.” (Hiranyakashipu praying to Lord Brahma, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.3.36)

Prahlada was not looking for trouble. He was asked about the most important things that he had learned. Granted, the response that followed happened to involve instruction that took place during prenatal development. Prior to his birth, while in the womb Prahlada heard from Narada Muni. Amazingly, that knowledge stayed with him. Prahlada was not only able to remember, but he could beautifully express, without fear or hesitation.

The point of emphasis was that the source of strength is the same in every person. Whether they are strong or weak, prominent or obscure, ascending or falling, the source is the same. We see a similar concept play out with machines. One automobile can reach sixty miles per hour in a matter of seconds. Another automobile is so deliberate in its acceleration that it resembles a golf cart. Despite the disparity in construction, the fuel of the engine is the same. Both vehicles must have fuel in order to function.

Prahlada presented this concept, but extending out to the entire universe. Take all of known space. Now, in every quadrant of that space, in every nook, in every corner, there is a single force responsible for strength. This omnipresence is known by the Sanskrit word sarvatra. The singular source of strength is everywhere. Hiranyakashipu should know this. Hiranyakashipu should at least acknowledge it. Prahlada was teaching something important.

2. The person who denied that Vishnu is sarvatra

Hiranyakashipu did not agree. He particularly took offense at the identification of that source. You see, Prahlada said that although the sarvatra potency could not necessarily be seen, there was still an identity. There was a person behind that potency. That person has many names, and one of them happens to be Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu knew of this Vishnu, even prior to Prahlada’s birth. Hiranyakashipu did not like this Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu certainly was not going to acknowledge Vishnu as the person holding this amazing potency.

Rather than proceed in the gentlemanly way, wherein counterarguments get placed on the table, where there is a back-and-forth, Hiranyakashipu decided to assert his authority as the superior. He was both the father and the ruler of the kingdom. Prahlada was both a son and a dependent within that kingdom. Hiranyakashipu was in no way obligated to listen to Prahlada. Instead, it was Prahlada who had to change his ways. This change would take place the easy way or the hard way. In either case, Hiranyakashipu was going to emerge victorious. He was going to be on top at the end.

There was but one problem. The hard way did not work. Prahlada could not be successfully deprogrammed. No amount of inferior knowledge presented to Prahlada, with fear from the teachers and force in the delivery, could change the eternal reality of the sarvatra property of Vishnu. Prahlada was sticking to his story. Nothing was going to change his mind; not even lethal punishment.

It was in this area that the exasperated Hiranyakashipu decided to give one last option. There was going to be an impromptu clinical trial. Forget searching for a control group. This was a simple pass or fail test. If Vishnu was indeed sarvatra, then He should show Himself in the nearby pillar. This is an identifiable space, after all. If Vishnu was the source of strength in everyone, that property should extend to inanimate matter, as well. Vishnu should be the reason for the pillar standing tall.

If the test passed, then Prahlada would be spared. Hiranyakashipu would lay off. But if the test failed, then the same amazing sword used to strike the pillar, to get the experiment started, would be used to divide Prahlada into two pieces. In this way, it was a fake show of compassion. Hiranyakashipu never dreamed that the test could ever pass. Prahlada was a pesky antagonist taking pleasure in angering the father. This was the accusation. It was like a snake had entered the home. This test was but a formality. Once it failed, everyone else would know that Prahlada was crazy.

Before we understand the conclusion, let us pause to consider the possibility of a positive outcome. What harm was there if Prahlada was wrong? Is there anything wrong with appreciating the gifts you have in life? Even if Hiranyakashipu did not want to acknowledge that Vishnu is sarvatra, what about Brahma? Hiranyakashipu literally had to beg for boons. He went through incredible austerities just to receive the meeting with Brahma. Why not honor that favor on a regular basis? Why lie to people and claim to be self-made?

On the other side, what if Prahlada was correct? What if Vishnu is indeed sarvatra? What if the test with the pillar resulted in the appearance of Vishnu, ready to proceed with prakata-lila? Hiranyakashipu failed to consider that option. He did not stop to think that Vishnu might not be so happy or agreeable. After all, the person insisting on the sarvatra property was being tortured for his insistence. The person denying the sarvatra property was the one torturing Prahlada. If Vishnu did appear, He likely would not be happy with Hiranyakashipu. Indeed, if Vishnu is all-powerful, He might not even need a powerful sword to return the result of horrible deeds to the wicked king. Vishnu might need only His nails, in dividing the perpetrator into two pieces, in an ironic twist on the initial threat.

हरिः सुरेशो नरलोकपूजितो हिताय लोकस्य चराचरस्य
कृत्वा विरूपं च पुरात्ममायया हिरण्यकं दुःखकरं नखैश् छिनत्

hariḥ sureśo naralokapūjito hitāya lokasya carācarasya
kṛtvā virūpaṃ ca purātmamāyayā hiraṇyakaṃ duḥkhakaraṃ nakhaiś chinat

“Shri Hari, who is the Lord of the demigods, who is worshiped by the people of the world, for benefiting the moving and nonmoving beings of the world took that dreadful form through His own energy and tore apart Hiranyakashipu, who caused suffering to so many, with His nails.” (Narasimha Purana, 44.43)

In Closing:

In most ironic twist,
Not a weapon or fist.

But using just His nails,
As threat of leader fails.

Prahlada innocent child against,
Who covering sarvatra feature spent.

That pillar proving words to be true,
With vision of Narasimha who.

Categories: chandrahasa, the two

Tags: dailyprompt, hare krishna, narasimha, poem, poems, poetry, prahlada