Five Warnings A Bro Could Have Given Hiranyakashipu

“’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)

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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. Isn’t Prahlada your own son?

“Bro, I don’t want to make you mad, but hear me out. Isn’t this your kid? As in, isn’t it your job to protect him? Isn’t that what a father is supposed to do for their son? Don’t you think it’s a little nuts to view him as an enemy? I don’t really understand anything he is saying, either, but you don’t see me blowing my top. He’s only five years old, in case you forgot.”

2. Is it a good idea to get so upset over nothing?

“Bro, I don’t want to make you mad, but why are you so mad? It’s just a kid. Sure, he’s saying nice stuff about Vishnu. He’s telling you that he thinks the point of life is to worship. He’s a little early in that area. Nobody around him really worships. Actually, I don’t see anyone here even thinking of saying the name of Vishnu. Still, I don’t see why you are losing it. How is someone so small able to trigger you? I thought you had your stuff together. Don’t you think you are embarrassing yourself a little? Just saying.”

3. Is it a good idea to attack the teachers?

“Bro, I don’t want to make you mad, but what did these people really do? You think they would secretly go against you? I don’t see it. There are other kids in the kingdom. They would squeal if Prahlada was learning from the teachers. I highly doubt that. It’s your son. If anyone should be blamed, it is you. Okay, okay, no need to point that weapon at me or stare at me with those dagger-like eyes. I’m just saying.”

4. Is it a good idea to keep failing?

“Bro, I don’t want to make you mad, but don’t you think it’s time to give it a rest? You tried killing your own kid. I’m surprised you even went that far, but who is going to stop you? You are invincible, ever since that meeting with Lord Brahma. At least you could acknowledge that every now and then, but you seem to insist that you are self-made. Well, if you are so powerful, how come you haven’t been able to eliminate Prahlada yet? You threw him off a cliff. You fed him poison. You sacrificed him to snakes. You had the guards attack him with weapons. Nothing’s working. It might be a good idea to sit back and think the whole matter over. Just saying.”

5. Is it a good idea to tempt fate?

“Bro, I don’t want to make you mad, but I think you are about to cross a line. One that you won’t be able to recover from. I think there is a huge risk that you are not seeing. What if Prahlada has been telling the truth? I know, I know, he has no evidence. Trust me, I don’t believe him, either. It’s just that there is always the possibility that this Vishnu person is indeed sarvatra. Vishnu might be the reason Prahlada has miraculously escaped thus far. Maybe Prahlada has met Vishnu already and just isn’t telling us. I don’t see what you have to lose by putting the sword down. You might come to later regret this threat of striking the nearby pillar.”

…

एष मे बह्व्-असाधूक्तो
वधोपायाश् च निर्मिताः
तैस् तैर् द्रोहैर् असद्-धर्मैर्
मुक्तः स्वेनैव तेजसा

eṣa me bahv-asādhūkto
vadhopāyāś ca nirmitāḥ
tais tair drohair asad-dharmair
muktaḥ svenaiva tejasā

“Hiranyakashipu thought: I have used many ill names in chastising this boy Prahlada and have devised many means of killing him, but despite all my endeavors, he could not be killed. Indeed, he saved himself by his own powers, without being affected in the least by these treacherous and abominable actions.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.45)

Of course, there was no one around to offer such advice to the leader of the Daityas. He is the infamous historical figure known as Hiranyakashipu. One of the perks of being the top person is that you don’t have to listen to anyone. In this case, the aura of strength was so commanding that no one dared utter a disagreeable word.

Except for the innocent and wise five-year old son. Prahlada tried to warn the father, but Prahlada was not an official advisor. His allegiance to Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, turned Prahlada into an enemy of the state. Although Prahlada, as a pure devotee, has no enemies, the father felt threatened. The father acted upon that fear, by trying to eliminate Prahlada.

Nothing worked, and so there was the final promise. Prahlada’s object of worship should manifest from the pillar. Vishnu should show Himself. As if God is a cheap exhibit at a travelling carnival or a vending machine that dispenses items upon proper payment, Hiranyakashipu was being sarcastic more than anything. It never occurred to him that Prahlada might be right. The father never considered what Vishnu might do if He finally did show up. Hiranyakashipu would indeed rue the day, as for Narasimha it was mere child’s play to end the reign of terror of that violent father.

In Closing:

Never the truth to consider,
Only threats of violence to deliver.

That after pillar to split,
For Prahlada to be it.

But instead Vishnu amazingly appearing,
As Narasimha words of child clearing.

At invitation not a bother,
To end terror of father.