Chapter 4: Hiranyakas'ipu Terrorizes the Universe

(1) S'rî Nârada said: 'Thus being solicited Lord Brahmâ who sees everywhere, pleased about Hiranyakas'ipu's austerities then granted him the benedictions that are so hard to obtain. (2) Lord Brahmâ said: 'My son, even though these boons you asked for are difficult to obtain for men, I will grant them to you my best.'

(3) Thereupon the mighty Lord whose grace is faultless departed, he who was worshiped by the most exalted Asura as the Almighty One praised by all rulers of mankind. (4) The Daitya who thus had obtained his desired boon and acquired a body with a golden luster, constantly thinking about the brother killed by the Lord, maintained a feeling of hatred towards Him. (5-7) He, the greatest Asura, conquering all the three worlds in all directions, brought the masters of all places under his control: god, demon and man; the kings, the musicians of heaven and the birds [the Garudas]; the serpents, the perfected ones and the bards; the scientists, the seers and the leading manes; the fathers of mankind, the treasure keepers and the wild men; the goblins, the evil spirits and the ghosts. He as the conqueror of the world usurped the power of rule of all authorities everywhere. (8) He, in the paradise of the gods situated with the riches of all opulence, thus lived in the highest world. Living in the palace of the king of heaven as created by Vis'vakarmâ the great asura architect, he, in control of all the wealth of the entire universe, from that abode of Lakshmî dominated the three worlds. (9-12) The steps there were made of coral, the floors of emerald, the walls of crystal and the rows of pillars were made of vaidûrya [cat's eye] stone. One also found there the most wonderful canopies and seats bedecked with rubies and bedding with pearls on its borders that was as white as the foam of milk. In the quarters adorned with jewels and gems celestial ladies with nice teeth showed their beautiful faces, left and right making sweet sounds with their tinkling ankle bells. In that royal residence ruling most severely with the greatest might and mind, the dictator controlling everyone, enjoyed it to be worshiped by the tormented, God-fearing entourage at his feet. (13) He, oh best one, the embodiment of all austerity, yoga, strength and good sense, who by anyone but the three principal deities, with all glory was honored with presentations from the hands of all important men, was engaged this way while being intoxicated by strong scented wines that made his eyes roll red as copper. (14) With all his power occupying the seat of Indra, he was glorified by Vis'vâvasu, Tumburu [the greatest Gandharvas] and by me oh son of Pându. Again and again all the singers and girls of heaven, the perfected ones, the saints and those who base themselves on knowledge offered their prayers to him. (15) Thus with gifts in abundance being worshiped by all classes and age groups, he in the exercise of his power reserved every share of the oblations for himself alone. (16) Mother earth as the cow of plenty yielded under his rule on all her seven continents spontaneously crops in a great abundance, while all the wonders of the universe could be observed in the sky. (17) The seas and oceans of salt and sweet water, wine, ghee, cane juice, yogurt and milk, and also their wives the rivers, carried all kinds of precious stones in their waves. (18) The valleys between the mountains and hills were his pleasure grounds that offered all the wealth of plant and tree throughout all the seasons. He alone stood for all the different qualities of all the ruling gods of nature. (19) Despite of having conquered all directions as the one and only ruler with the right to exhaustingly enjoy all thinkable pleasures, he was not at peace with it, for he had lost the control over his senses. (20) Being cursed by the brahmins [the Kumâras] he was intoxicated by great pride over the opulence he had acquired, so that a long period passed of living in offense with the scriptures [see also B.G. 16: 23-24].

(21) Because of his painful rebukes there was no safe place for all the disturbed worlds and their leaders and thus they approached the Infallible One to seek shelter with Him [compare B.G. 5: 29]. (22-23) They prayed thereto: 'We offer our obeisances in the direction where the Supersoul of Hari, the Supreme Lord is found and from where the peaceful and pure souls of the renounced order never return.' With their minds under control being wakeful and feeding on air only, they in their worship of the Master of the Senses thus steadied and purified their intelligence.

(24) Then, a loud voice without a form resounded like thunder in all directions, that drove away the fear of the saintly ones: (25-26) 'Do not fear, oh best souls of learning, I wish you all the best. From having my vision the living beings may attain all good fortune. The nefarious activities of this great demon are known to Me and I shall put an end to them. Just wait and see. (27) When one is hostile towards the gods, the Vedas, the cows, the brahmins, the saints, the regulative principles and towards Me, one will soon perish. (28) As soon as he [Hiranyakas'ipu] is of violence against his peace-loving son, that great soul Prahlâda who has no enemies, I shall kill him, irrespective the blessings he received [from Lord Brahmâ, see also 3.25: 21].'

(29) S'rî Nârada said: 'Thus being addressed by the spiritual master of all living beings, the godly ones offered Him their obeisances and turned back to their places. They being relieved of all their anxieties considered the demon as good as dead [2.3: 10]. (30) The daitya king fathered four most qualified sons of whom the one named Prahlâda was the best one endowed with all the qualities of a great devotee [see 5.18: 12]. (31-32) He, as a good brahmin being of full control over the senses and the mind, was firmly established in the Absolute Truth and was, alike the Supersoul, the beloved, best friend of all living beings. He sat down at the feet of the great ones like a servant, like a father he took care of the poor, he was like a brother to his equals and always kind to the spiritual masters whom he esteemed as the Supreme Controller Himself. He was of education, purpose, beauty, nobility and completely free from arrogance and impudence [compare B.G. 12: 13-19 and B.G. 18: 42]. (33) Even though he was born from an Asura he was not of a demoniac nature. In the midst of danger he was of an unperturbed consciousness and he had no desire whatsoever to talk about or be concerned with temporary matters. Material qualities he considered insubstantial and by controlling his senses, life air, body and mind he quieted his lusts. (34) His qualities are, like the ones of the Supreme Lord our Controller, unabated to this very day defended by the scholars oh King. (35) In gatherings of saintly people the enemies [of the demons] discuss these characteristics using him as an example. When even the wise and learned ones do this oh King, then why should you not do so or anyone else? (36) One runs out of words when one tries to enumerate the countless qualities of him who owes his greatness to his natural attraction for Vâsudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (37) As a small boy he, in his full absorption in the attraction of Krishna, refrained from playing and seemed to be absentminded, having no understanding for worldly matters.  (38) As he sat and walked, ate and lied down, drank and talked he, embraced by Govinda, was impervious to all of it. (39) Sometimes worrying about [not being in] Vaikunthha he cried, sometimes he laughed about a twist of mind and sometimes he chanted aloud in great jubilation thinking of Him. (40) Sometimes he, being overwhelmed, loudly exclaimed [His name], sometimes he danced without shame and sometimes he, lost in thoughts about Him and projecting himself into His position, imitated Him. (41) Then again he with his hair standing on end and with tears in his half-closed eyes, fell completely silent, rapt with joy in being caught in the loving association of His transcendental bliss. (42) He by his constant service at the lotus feet that are glorified in the hymns, attained the highest ecstasy by the evolution of his association of indifference about the material world. Continually he from the spiritual soul that way brought peace to all those who lacked in spirit and association. (43) Unto him, that exalted and most fortunate, broad-minded devotee who was his own son oh King, Hiranyakas'ipu committed the greatest sin.'

(44) S'rî Yudhishthhira said: 'Oh devarishi, we would like to know from you the following: why did the father make his own pure and exalted son suffer? (45) Sons going against the will of their fathers are lovingly reprimanded. But for teaching them a lesson they cannot be punished like an enemy, is it not? (46) Please oh brahmin, what to say about this father who so mean to the point of death hated his own obedient son? Please drive away the doubts we have, for he was a great devotee of the sort who honors his father as his guru, oh master.'