Don’t You Get Tired Of Praising Devotees

“In any assembly where there are discourses about saints and devotees, O King Yudhishthira, even the enemies of the demons, namely the demigods, what to speak of you, would cite Prahlada Maharaja as an example of a great devotee.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.4.35)

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यं साधु-गाथा-सदसि
रिपवो ’पि सुरा नृप
प्रतिमानं प्रकुर्वन्ति
किम् उतान्ये भवादृशाः

yaṁ sādhu-gāthā-sadasi
ripavo ’pi surā nṛpa
pratimānaṁ prakurvanti
kim utānye bhavādṛśāḥ

Friend1: There is the statement by Narada Muni about how Prahlada would be praised in any assembly of devotees and certain other kinds of people.

Friend2: Do you understand why that needs to be stated, i.e. why that is remarkable?

Friend1: Because Prahlada was an outstanding devotee at just five years of age, showing wisdom well beyond his years?

Friend2: It’s primarily because of the great contrast. He was born in a Daitya family. These were typically enemies to the suras, the demigods. Narada made the statement to Yudhishthira, who was born of the god of justice, Yamaraja. Yudhishthira is essentially dharma in living form.

Friend1: Virtue. Piety. Religiousness.

Friend2: An all-around good person. Beyond being nice and holding the door open for someone prior to entering a building, he would always think of the proper course of action before starting any endeavor. He had such a soft heart that even in a case where violence was justified against the aggressors, he was hesitant to inflict lethal force.

Friend1: I’ve often heard Maharaja Yudhishthira compared to Shri Rama, the prince of Ayodhya.

Friend2: Yes, they are examples of an ideal king.

Friend1: I know in Rama’s lila there is a similar incident. He was hesitant to take aggression against the female demon-like person named Tataka.

Friend2: Yes, since it is a violation of dharma to strike a female. The guru, Vishvamitra, settled the issue of contradictory paths. He urged Rama to fight on, to eliminate the danger to the sages residing in the forest.

Friend1: Anyway, back to Prahlada. Don’t get upset with me here.

Friend2: Uh oh.

Friend1: I agree that Prahlada should be praised. It makes sense that saints would discuss him. He is one of the twelve mahajanas, or great personalities, listed by Yamaraja. The thing is, don’t people get tired of praising devotees?

Friend2: What do you mean?

Friend1: Every day the same thing. “This person was great. That person was amazing. We should learn from them.” Blah blah blah.

Friend2: You would rather they talk about something else?

Friend1: I don’t know. It just seems like there has to be a limit.

Friend2: That’s the thing: there is no limit to the glories of these people. Prahlada can be studied and honored for many lifetimes. As a child you can relate to him because he had a horrible parent. As a student you can relate to not being interested in the subject matter taught in school. As a loving family member, you can understand why he still felt compassion for Hiranyakashipu, who was a wicked attempted murderer.

Friend1: Hmm, I never thought of it that way.

Friend2: As a parent you can appreciate him even more. Once you have your own children you will realize how exceptional Prahlada is. Most adults don’t reach that level of realization of both spirit and matter. He was at the liberated state right from birth. You can praise him endlessly, and also those associated with his situation, like Narada Muni. From the Prahlada story you see the effectiveness of transcendental sound. It can rescue a person while they are still in the womb, what to speak of when they are mature and capable of discrimination.

Friend1: Those are great points.

Friend2: Another question to ponder. What else do you want people to talk about? The entire world follows this path: praise or criticize. That is what newspapers and blogs are based on. Praise someone for satisfying some desire, for doing something that is considered good. Dishonor someone who fits into the opposite position. Over time the same personality might receive both treatments, from the same observers. If you’re going to praise, why not focus on exceptional people that can do so much good for the world, long after they have left it? It’s amazing to me that we can still talk about Shri Rama, Yudhishthira, Prahlada, Narada and others. That shows there must be something more to them, that their way of life is one worth emulating.

In Closing:

Since so much good in store,

In daily praise not to bore.

Can speak of Prahlada forever,

Of wavering devotion never.

Better than with material to choose,

Where one day appreciation to lose.

Exceptional in character and behavior shown,

Saints as the brightest stars known.

Five Body Parts Which Can Be Shown Through Medical Imagery

“Brahma, it is I, the Personality of Godhead, who was existing before the creation, when there was nothing but Myself. Nor was there the material nature, the cause of this creation. That which you see now is also I, the Personality of Godhead, and after annihilation what remains will also be I, the Personality of Godhead.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.9.33)

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अहम् एवासम् एवाग्रे
नान्यद् यत् सद्-असत् परम्
पश्चाद् अहं यद् एतच् च
यो ऽवशिष्येत सो ऽस्म्य् अहम्

aham evāsam evāgre
nānyad yat sad-asat param
paścād ahaṁ yad etac ca
yo 'vaśiṣyeta so 'smy aham

It is a luxury that generations past never had. The reliance was on faith and the best guesses of the people involved. There were instruments to take measurements from the outside. As an example, you see smoke coming out of the building. A good guess is that an uncontrolled fire has started somewhere inside. The problem is that you have no means of entry.

From a close proximity you take a temperature measurement. The reading is certainly above normal. There must be a fire inside. Yet there is no way to validate through direct perception. It is one of the many limitations with human sight.

Through advancements in technology, there are ways to go beyond, to extend the range of perception of the senses gifted by nature. A qualified doctor can now show various parts of the inside of the body through medical imagery.

1. The heart

We were pretty sure about this all along. A person can hear and feel the beating inside. There are changes brought on by intense pressure, nervousness, and physical exertion. Problems with the heart mean problems with everything else. This organ is the delivery mechanism for the vital fluids required by every other organ.

2. The liver

The imagery is not isolated to a specific region of the body. Up and down, front and back, on the outside and around – every aspect is available for study. The medical student does not have to wait to dissect a dead body. While living there is visual confirmation of important organs.

3. The kidneys

Filtering so much blood on a given day, through an image a person can see these organs of a unique shape. A certain variety of legume takes the same name due to the similarity in physical design. If a person should happen to donate a kidney to someone else, an image can confirm how many remain within.

4. The stomach

Ulcers, excess gas, not enough acid, too much food stuck inside – issues with the stomach are not easy to diagnose. Moreover, the remedy often involves waiting and seeing. It’s not as simple as probing the area and making repairs. Yet imagery still can help a great deal.

5. The soul?

Despite advancements in technology, there is no instrument to confirm the presence of the soul. This vital force, whose presence is the very indication of life, cannot be located through sight. At the same time, everyone knows that it is there. Without soul there is no life. Death is ultimately marked by the absence of the soul. Everything else could be as it was with respect to the body.

In the four verses that summarize the lengthy Vedic work known as the Bhagavata Purana, the Supreme Lord Vishnu explains that He is the soul of the universe. In the same way that medical imagery cannot detect the most important aspect inside a living body, mere observation will not prove that Vishnu is the single factor that is responsible for an existence.

Yet just as the soul in the individual is known through symptoms, so through a basic analysis of the universe we understand that someone is ultimately responsible. Apply the process of elimination. Remove every object, one by one, until nothing is left. Since there will always be something, there is an essence of existence.

Vishnu explains that the essence is not an impersonal force. Just as you and I are different, despite both being individual soul, the Supreme Lord is distinct from the universe that He animates. Just as the automobile will not operate without a source of fuel, so the amazing engine that is nature, prakriti, cannot do anything without the instigation of a person, purusha.

To have such an understanding is necessary since it gives confirmation of a God who can be known. More than acknowledged, He can be understood in a variety of ways. In fact, whatever angle of vision a person brings, they can use it to come closer, upasana, to Vishnu. That closeness ideally culminates in a connection, yoga, which is the eternal way of living, transcendental to both the localized body and the entire mahat-tattva, the material creation.

In Closing:

All along likely knowing,

Confirmation from image showing.

That inside the heart and such,

Liver and kidney filtering much.

Stomach and other parts too,

But not soul defining who.

Same concept with everything applying,

Vishnu bounds of time defying.

Four Activities That Might Not Reflect Well On My Character

“I am faithfully engaged in the service of Rama, who is a hero and prince of wide renown, who has full control over His senses and mind [jitendriyam], who is mighty-armed, and whose face resembles a full moon.” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 47.36)

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पूर्णचन्द्राननं रामं राजवत्सं जितेन्द्रियम्।
पृथुकीर्तिं महात्मानमहं राममनुव्रता।।

pūrṇacandrānanaṃ rāmaṃ rājavatsaṃ jitendriyam।
pṛthukīrtiṃ mahātmānamahaṃ rāmamanuvratā।।

Some people dread it. It’s the last thing they want to happen while they are out. If they are lucky enough to spot the other person first, they look for a way to hide. Move to another aisle in the supermarket. Pretend to be reading the ingredient list on a particular item. Turn around and walk the other way.

Yet the difficulty of the situation is precisely that the person you happen to run into hasn’t been in your vision for a long time. There is the chance that they spot you first and that you don’t recognize them right away.

Upon the inevitable meeting, the conversation is likely to turn in this direction:

“Wow, the last time I saw you was years ago. You were doing such and such. Man, how quickly the time flies. What are you up to these days? How are things going?”

Certain responses might not reflect well on both your character and your direction in life.

1. I sleep for long periods of time

“Oh, I’m talking like ten to twelve hours a night. No joke. I purchased this expensive mattress that allows you to adjust the firmness setting electronically. Some days I feel like a more plush resting surface and some days not. No one disturbs me, either. I can stay in bed for as long as I want.”

2. I eat more than anyone can imagine

“It’s like I have a lifetime pass to the buffet restaurant. Pick and choose whatever I want. Not the same thing every day, but there is no boredom. Then it’s usually a full pizza pie at night, along with a twelve pack of soda. The area where I live has the best food. I never have to cook for myself.”

3. I maintain multiple partners at the same time for enjoyment

“Am I married? No. Why bother? I’m having too much fun. I keep several people in my rolodex, so to speak. They are available at a moment’s notice. Whichever one I feel like calling on a particular night. They don’t stay long, either. They don’t know about one another. They each think that I am exclusively with them, which adds to the fun.”

4. I visit casinos on a regular basis

“As the trust fund money has kicked in, I spend a lot of my weekends at the casino. Blackjack. The roulette wheel. Betting on sporting events. There is always a rush. Maybe I break even, or a little less. Hey, it’s a good time.”

…

The Sanskrit word to describe such a lifestyle is ajitendriya. This means “conquered by the senses.” Though in material life the pursuit is towards achieving a position where the aforementioned types of enjoyment will be available without limitations, in truth those who control their senses are held in higher esteem.

Upon whom would I rather rely to complete an important task? Someone who is sober, level-headed and focused on the task at hand or someone who can’t control how much they eat and sleep? The Vedas reveal the secret that jitendriya is the way towards happiness and peace.

Infamous characters like Hiranyakashipu and Ravana were ajitendriya. Despite rising to prominence and great power for a period of time, everything eventually came crashing down. They had no peace while such enjoyment was available to them. Others, who were seemingly in an inferior material condition, could withstand any change in fortune due to their connection to the Divine.

तेषाम् एवानुकम्पार्थम्
अहम् अज्ञान-जं तमः
नाशयाम्य् आत्म-भाव-स्थो
ज्ञान-दीपेन भास्वता

teṣām evānukampārtham
aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ
nāśayāmy ātma-bhāva-stho
jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā

“Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.11)

Those who are connected to God the person in a mood of love and devotion automatically become jitendriya. A separate endeavor is not required for conquering the senses. The Supreme Lord shines the torchlight of knowledge from within, showing them the way towards transcendence. Sita Devi describes that her husband, Shri Rama, has conquered the senses. This is to exhibit the power of life in dharma, to show that everything good comes from following the path of righteousness.

In Closing:

After initial pleasantries to greet,

When longtime friend to meet.

To inquire what up to now,

Time spent mostly how?

Not good upon you reflecting,

When life of indulgence projecting.

Jitendriya way with Supreme aligning,

From inside light of truth shining.

Holi 2019

“Shanda and Amarka, the priests of the demons, were eager to know from Prahlada Maharaja who the Vaishnavas were that came to instruct him in Krishna consciousness. Their purpose was to discover the names of these Vaishnavas. In the beginning they did not threaten the boy because when threatened he might not identify the real culprits.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.8 Purport)

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It was an innocent enough question. Prahlada was young, after all. Just starting school, the father inquired as to the interests of the boy. What subjects grabbed his attention? What did Prahlada consider to be the most valuable knowledge?

In his reply, the boy was thoroughly honest. Too innocent to try to intentionally arouse the hostilities in the father, Prahlada revealed what he considered to be the most important. His words were based on the science of self-realization. The son was revealing to the father that the most pertinent knowledge for any person in this world is to understand the difficulties associated with accepting a material body.

श्री-प्रह्लाद उवाच
तत् साधु मन्ये ’सुर-वर्य देहिनां
सदा समुद्विग्न-धियाम् असद्-ग्रहात्
हित्वात्म-पातं गृहम् अन्ध-कूपं
वनं गतो यद् धरिम् आश्रयेत

śrī-prahlāda uvāca
tat sādhu manye ’sura-varya dehināṁ
sadā samudvigna-dhiyām asad-grahāt
hitvātma-pātaṁ gṛham andha-kūpaṁ
vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta

“Prahlada Maharaja replied: O best of the asuras, King of the demons, as far as I have learned from my spiritual master, any person who has accepted a temporary body and temporary household life is certainly embarrassed by anxiety because of having fallen in a dark well where there is no water but only suffering. One should give up this position and go to the forest [vana]. More clearly, one should go to Vrindavana, where only Krishna consciousness is prevalent, and should thus take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.5)

Based on what happened next, we can review some of the possibilities on the other side. If a person should happen to openly discuss their preference for real jnana, that based in the Vedas, what exactly might the reception be? The occasion of Holi provides a vivid reminder of the extreme degree to which the negative consequences might fall.

1. Try to change your mind

The father was your atheist’s atheist. Prahlada described him as asura-varya, which essentially means “the chief of the bad guys.” Hiranyakashipu might have viewed it as an honorary title, but Prahlada was actually insulting him. The father had such bad qualities in him that even amongst the class of people dedicated to stealing, cheating, lying and going against principles in righteousness, he was unique.

Hiranyakashipu did not react too well to hearing that the son was on the side of the suras. That is what the words ultimately revealed. Godly principles are on the side of godly people. Suras are the good guys and asuras, being a negation of the original word, fall on the side of bad.

The good tend to be tolerant. Though they know better, they are not interested in interfering. This quality descends from the Supreme Lord Himself. So many jiva souls have wandered astray since time immemorial, but God the person does not interfere directly unless specifically called to do so. He allows for the exercise of free will in the direction away from Him.

Prahlada did not try to force the father to become a sura, but upon learning where his son stood, the father could not tolerate. The immediate solution was to try to change the boy’s mind. The two principal teachers, Shanda and Amarka, received orders to fix the situation. A modern practice of the same kind goes by the name “deprogramming.”

2. Try to find out who infiltrated the area

The “deprogramming” word implies that there was originally a programming effort. Someone must have gotten through to the boy for him to speak this way. No one in the kingdom was on the side of the suras. Everyone followed Hiranyakashipu, their leader.

Maybe someone infiltrated the area. Perhaps there was a spy. This has been one of the effective methods of statecraft employed since time immemorial. Heads of state are not always forthright in their dealings. Any information gathered presents an advantage, and so espionage is a timeless art meant to fortify the sovereign nation against enemy attack.

3. Use lethal force

Prahlada learned from within the womb. He heard from Narada Muni, who is more than a sura. He is a devotee of the personal God, and he is similarly fearless in speaking the principles of vishnu-tattva, or the truth relating to the personal side of the Divine and devotion to Him.

There was no point in going after Narada Muni now. The “programming” already took place. Prahlada could not be deprogrammed, either, as for some reason he held steadfast in his devotion to Vishnu, whom Hiranyakashipu viewed with the utmost contempt.

If you are open about your desire to practice devotion to God, it might get you killed. The state went after the heretic Prahlada, but somehow every attempt failed. Even taking him into a pit of fire failed to achieve the desired result. The woman who was supposed to be immune ended up burning to death, giving rise to the annual celebration known as Holi.

Prahlada simply would not die, and so the father wondered if the son received special powers through some practice in mysticism.

4. Change their ways

Hiranyakashipu was just as staunch in his opposition to Vishnu, and eventually the two forces collided. Though the king had previously received so many boons of protection, just a little vulnerability is enough for Vishnu to attack, who did so in the amazing form known as Narasimha.

Sometimes people do change their ways, however. That is the potency of hearing. Shabda-brahman, the Divine sound, can bring someone back to their original consciousness. The transformation is not easy, as qualification is necessary. If I enroll in a four year program at a university, there is the potential to earn a degree upon completion. Yet that is no guarantee of an achievement; not everyone who enrolls will find success.

In the same way, the sound vibrations of the Absolute Truth may not work if a person is too bound by desires in illusion. Hiranyakashipu actually saw God face to face and that still didn’t convince him. Nevertheless, Prahlada’s teachings did not go for naught. They carry forward infinitely in the time continuum, helping to rescue souls from the dreaded life of sense gratification, for generation after generation.

In Closing:

With honest response potential there,

That authority trying to scare.

First the culprit to be found,

Who imparted wisdom sound.

Maybe even lethal force to apply,

Like with Holika in fire to try.

But Prahlada not to be defeated,

Always in yoga connection seated.

Gaura Purnima 2019

“Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's special mission is the deliverance of all fallen souls in Kali-yuga. Devotees of Krishna must persistently seek the favor and mercy of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to become fit to return home, back to Godhead.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 14.16 Purport)

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Kali-yuga is like an ocean of faults. No one has a complete understanding of just how deep the difficulties stretch. There is one problem after another, with forces impeding genuine progress on all sides. The material world itself is like a vast ocean of suffering that is difficult to cross, and in the age of quarrel and hypocrisy the degree of difficulty increases significantly.

Thankfully, someone special once arrived on a full moon night in the month of Phalguna. Soon to be known as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He induced others to chant the holy names right from the beginning. Penetrating through the barriers presented by the age, He showed the way towards transcendence.

Taking the situation of a person who has made the decision to take up spiritual life, the road ahead is not easy. So many problems arise, and the stresses mount to the point that it seems like a higher authority is giving the message to quit, to abandon the pursuit.

Family responsibilities

I have to care for my spouse and children. There is no one else invested with the responsibility. They may have their own affairs to tend to, but in the isolated case the burden is entirely with me.

I am up to the task, but then sacrifices have to be made. I like to engage in reading scriptural works like Shrimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita and Ramayana, but the young children wake me up early in the morning. This is the most ideal reading time for me, since I have the most energy to dedicate.

Yet that is not a possibility in my case. I have to tend to affairs in the home since there are no other hands available to help. This means that should any time free up later in the day, I might be too tired to pick up a book.

Fear of taking to the life of a beggar

Of course, one solution is to take to the renounced order, sannyasa. Maybe not become one in the official sense, but at the very least run away and go live in a temple. Then there are no responsibilities. No family members to demand this and that. No spouse to nag at you over trivial issues.

The problem is that a person may not be willing to become publicly identified in such an occupation. They would rather take up spiritual life gradually, without making a show of it. Wearing a certain dress and living in a house of worship can invite scrutiny at a time when it cannot be properly handled.

Maintaining a steady income

Back to the home life it is. In addition to the daily responsibilities, there is the “umbrella” issue of an income. In other words, how are you going to pay for stuff? The house doesn’t come for free. Food doesn’t put itself on the table.

A professional must stay up to date in their respective field. There is a certain success track, which involves progressing from one job to the next, with hopefully higher incomes along the way. This may mean changing locations, which is another heavy task to complete, uprooting the family and shifting to a new place.

Fighting lethargy

The easy way to spend the day is to sit on the sofa and watch television. There is enough programming available to consume many lifetimes over. If you’re feeling overly tired, lay down in bed and do the same.

As there is the saying that a body at rest tends to stay at rest, success in the difficult endeavor of spiritual life requires motion. That is to say something has to be done. Even the supposedly passive activity of hearing requires that a person be awake and alert. How to fight off lethargy when there are so many forces causing fatigue on a daily basis?

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in this world on the occasion soon to be known as Gaura Purnima. He is an avatara of the Supreme Lord, but with a unique purpose. Instead of actively defending the saintly class from outside attack, He shows the way towards transcendence. He freely gives away Krishna-prema, or love of God.

Even if others are not enthusiastic in the beginning, not ready to make the journey to see Him, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu creates a mechanism whereby the prema comes to them. This is the sankirtana movement, the congregational chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Every person can set aside some time each day to engage in this practice. The most merciful Mahaprabhu, who pays no attention to offenses committed in the process, guarantees a successful result. He unlocks the pathway to liberation in this most degraded age.

In Closing:

Kali’s forces so attacking me,

That no hint of success to see.

Genuine interest inside,

But with responsibilities to reside.

This need and that always pressing,

Situation bleak and depressing.

Thankfully Chaitanya for rescue to dedicate,

The full moon this darkness to eradicate.

Understanding Hiranyakashipu’s Rise To Power

"In one who has unflinching devotional faith in Krishna, all the good qualities of Krishna and the demigods are consistently manifest." (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 5.18.12)

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यस्यास्ति भक्तिर् भगवत्य् अकिञ्चना
सर्वैर् गुणैस् तत्र समासते सुराः
हराव् अभक्तस्य कुतो महद्-गुणा
मनोरथेनासति धावतो बहिः

yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā
sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ
harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇā
manorathenāsati dhāvato bahiḥ

How could such a bad person rise to power? It is said in Shrimad Bhagavatam that a person who has unflinching faith in the Supreme Lord, the personal God, automatically acquires the qualities of the demigods. Typically, the requirement is to first behave in the mode of goodness, sattva-guna. Something like the, “If you’re good you go to heaven,” model, there are delineated acts of charity, sacrifice, and austerity that accumulate pious credits, like in a bank account, to be redeemed at a later date.

Hiranyakashipu fell into neither category. He wasn’t a devotee of the Supreme Lord. Just the opposite. He had such hostility that his mind was always focused on Vishnu, the person he considered to be the greatest enemy. The drive for world domination was an attempt to hopefully thwart any future competition from the person everyone else worshiped.

The leader of the Daityas engaged in austerity, but it wasn’t in the mode of goodness. The purpose of supplicating the creator, Lord Brahma, was for receiving boons in order to increase strength. It is something like a salesperson flattering a potential customer. Once the sale is made, there is no need for further communication. The nice words were kind of a ruse, a ploy to gain a favor.

Does Hiranyakashipu’s ascent to the heavenly realm, his forced entry into the kingdom of the leaders of the suras, Indra, indicate a flaw in the system? Is pious behavior really not worth it? Maybe every person’s lot in life is randomly determined?

A fictional account of a real-world scenario helps to provide some clarity. Suppose that a person illegally enters a store. They do so in the middle of the night, when no one is there. This is an intelligent strike. The thief has visited the store previously, gathering valuable intelligence. They know that at this moment the proprietor is away on vacation for a few weeks.

They sit themselves behind the desk in the office of the owner. When the next business day rolls around, the employees are surprised to see the new person. “Don’t worry,” the thief says. “I am the brother of such and such. He left me in charge for a while. I will be overseeing the operation.”

The employees didn’t know that the owner had a brother. They are skeptical, but they go along. They provide the sensitive information of the business to the thief. The veritable goldmine of the bank account numbers and the accounts receivable – the goal is to take everything from the owner.

In this situation has the thief really become the owner? Have they risen to power? Have they taken what doesn’t belong to them? Perhaps for a while, but eventually something will go wrong. The original owner will return from vacation. If interference measures go into place, then one of the employees is likely to find out. If not, then the authorities will likely notice the forgeries. The idea is that something in the system will break down.

With Hiranyakashipu it looked like nothing would work. All aspects were covered, or at least the king thought. He didn’t count on Vishnu’s intelligence to directly interfere in the matter. Hiranyakashipu would be done in by one of his sons, of all people. That boy had the unflinching devotion mentioned previously. Right from the time of birth, Prahlada lived a life of bhakti, connected in yoga to the Supreme Lord. The situation was corrected, dispelling the temporary illusion of the worst character in the world somehow succeeding in his sinful ways.

In Closing:

To status of demigods to rise,

By one in sattva-guna tries.

Easier when in bhakti-yoga applying,

Saints always Bhagavan glorifying.

But in neither Hiranya effort making,

And post of Indra taking.

Just temporary, not that time froze,

Son Prahlada eventually to expose.

Why Didn’t Prahlada Just Stay Quiet

“Narada Muni continued: When Prahlada Maharaja spoke about the path of self-realization in devotional service, thus being faithful to the camp of his father's enemies, Hiranyakashipu, the King of the demons, heard Prahlada's words and he laughingly said, ‘Thus is the intelligence of children spoiled by the words of the enemy.’” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.5.6)

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श्री-नारद उवाच
श्रुत्वा पुत्र-गिरो दैत्यः
पर-पक्ष-समाहिताः
जहास बुद्धिर् बालानां
भिद्यते पर-बुद्धिभिः

śrī-nārada uvāca
śrutvā putra-giro daityaḥ
para-pakṣa-samāhitāḥ
jahāsa buddhir bālānāṁ
bhidyate para-buddhibhiḥ

Friend1: Do you follow any of the drama involving a new supreme court pick?

Friend2: For the United States overall or under like a state jurisdiction?

Friend1: For the highest court in the land, where there are only nine seats at present.

Friend2: Oh. Not really. Granted, there only seems to be drama when the person making the pick has a specific political affiliation.

Friend1: Right; I hear you. It’s all about legislating from the bench.

Friend2: Which they shouldn’t do. A judge is supposed to be impartial. On the Supreme Court, they are supposed to look at the Constitution for reference. Personal preference should have no bearing. When the news headlines later say that the court sided with such and such group, that actually should never be the case.

Friend1: The headline should always be the same, “The Supreme Court sides with the Constitution.”

Friend2: You took the words right out of my mouth. The courts have now become a way to circumvent elections. If your party took a drubbing in the last round, have no fear. The courts are always there to side in your favor.

Friend1: Along those lines, one of the great concerns of the person making the selection is that the justice will end up being entirely different.

Friend2: Oh yeah, definitely. That’s why people don’t mess around anymore. They go for someone with a judicial track record. No more picking someone because of their expertise in practicing law. You can’t take that chance.

Friend1: Because despite how they appear on the surface, when placed in a position of authority, they might behave differently.

Friend2: And then you are out of luck. These are lifetime appointments.

Friend1: I’m bringing this up today as a transition for discussing the behavior of Prahlada Maharaja, specifically how it is described in the Shrimad Bhagavatam.

Friend2: Okay.

Friend1: Prahlada is famous for being bold. At only five years of age, he did not hesitate in voicing his preference for bhakti. He was devoted to Vishnu, the personal God, despite the father being antagonistic to the highest degree.

Friend2: Never mind the father. There was scant a person to be found who would exhibit such devotion. Even the demigods were afraid of Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada’s father.

Friend1: There is the well-known incident of the father putting Prahlada on his lap and asking the boy what the most important subject was learned in school.

Friend2: To which Prahlada’s reply discussed the embarrassment of having accepted a material body and thereby becoming attached to sense gratification.

Friend1: That was the beginning, the initial spark, so to speak, to ignite the father’s rage.

Friend2: Yes, and the boy did not relent. He stayed committed. He was firm in his conviction.

Friend1: Here is my question. Would it not have been better to remain quiet?

Friend2: For who? Prahlada or Hiranyakashipu?

Friend1: Prahlada. Just don’t say anything. Pretend to be just like the father, i.e. show interest in statecraft, in maintaining world domination.

Friend2: Oh, so that’s why you opened with the Supreme Court pick issue. Basically, get hired for the job by maintaining a veil of secrecy. Once you are in a safe position, you can be your true self.

Friend1: Don’t even need secrecy. Just lie. Pretend to be what the other person wants. Prahlada could have pleased the father with fake enthusiasm about following the asura path. Then, once he became king he could go back to devotional service.

Friend2: That is an interesting proposition.

Friend1: Many would relate to the situation. They are stuck working in an office for upwards of forty hours per week. They mingle with colleagues and the like who are interested in smoking, drinking, women hunting and chasing the almighty dollar. The devotees have no interest in such things, and yet they keep quiet to get along.

Friend2: I get what you are saying, but I think the situation is not entirely analogous. Prahlada was asked about a specific topic. He told the truth. He wasn’t afraid of the reception. He didn’t care, in fact. Whether one person or one thousand agrees with me on the need for worshiping Vishnu, my dedication will remain the same. Sure, you feel a little better when others find the transcendental light, when they get on the path towards liberation, but fierce opposition on the other side is no reason to shrink in fear. Prahlada is celebrated specifically for his boldness. Based on the initial response, you could say it was a grave error.

Friend1: Because Hiranyakashipu didn’t even argue, really. He got so mad that he eventually tried to kill his own son.

Friend2: Many attempts. Being nice doesn’t always mean saying things that are pleasing to another person. Prahlada was being the kindest person towards his father. The person revealing the folly of chasing enjoyment in illusion is the most benevolent. Prahlada knew the real truth. He was a tattva-darshi, and so he had no issue being honest in his dealings with others.

In Closing:

Like lying in interview setting,

In order for position getting.

Why not Prahlada just to agree?

And then later when kingdom to see.

To bhakti practices returning,

Wrath of others not earning.

Asked directly, so truth be told,

Let Krishna handle whatever to unfold.