Vāmanāya namah

The teachers explained to Prahlāda the concepts of dharma (righteousness), artha (material prosperity) and kāma (fulfillment of desires) and educated him in these fields. Prahlāda was also trained in the four methodologies of diplomacy known as sāma, dāna, bheda and danda used by kings. After extensively teaching him all these subjects, they brought him back to the royal palace.

Prahlāda’s mother bathed him, dressed him nicely and decorated him with ornaments. Prahlāda had mastered higher levels of administrative knowledge at such tender age. The teachers then took Prahlāda, who was shining with all ornamentation, to Demon-king Hiraṇyakaśipu.

Prahlāda fell at his father’s feet and prostrated. Hiraṇyakaśipu lovingly blessed the child by uttering auspicious words. For a long time the father lovingly embraced the son and derived great bliss. He seated Prahlāda on his lap and kissed him again and again on his forehead. With tears of joy flowing from his eyes, he lovingly addressed his son and said, “My dear prince Prahlāda, may you live long! Please recite one lesson from the many lessons you have learnt under the tutelage of these teachers”.

Prahlāda replied,

“śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam

My dear father, there are nine types of devotion. They are listening to the glories of Lord Vishnu; singing them; remembering them; offering service to His feet; worshipping His lotus feet; offering obeisance to His feet; considering oneself to be His servant; maintaining friendship with Him and Self-surrendering totally to Him. With feelings of complete Self-surrender, the spiritual aspirant should develop such supreme devotion towards Lord Srihari. This is the best education in my opinion.”

Hearing these words uttered by his son, Hiraṇyakaśipu was alarmed. He flew into a rage. With lips that trembled violently due to fury, he addressed Guru Śukracharya’s son, who was Prahlāda’s teacher, and yelled, “O wicked man! Is this the education that you impart to my son? You appear to be a scoundrel who has joined the enemy camp. Disregarding my advice, you still continue to impart knowledge which is devoid of any essence. There is no dearth of imposters who, disguising as well-wishers, cheat people in the name of friendship. However, just as the past sins manifest in the form of diseases at appropriate times, your hideous wicked nature has now been revealed. Is this the nonsense that you teach my son in your school? You are teaching him to remain devoted to my enemy whose name I cannot even tolerate to hear.”

Hearing this, the teacher politely replied, “O enemy of Indra! Whatever your son has spoken till now has not been taught by me nor by anyone else. The knowledge that we have taught has nothing to do with what he speaks in your presence. How and when this knowledge has entered his intellect (buddhi) we fail to understand. It can be said that this knowledge has naturally sprouted in him. O king, please control your anger. Would we ever dream of joining the enemy camp when you are our Lord and master? You are everything to us. Please do not accuse us falsely. We have never heard this verse before. We do not know anything about the nine forms of devotion. This being the case, how can we teach him this knowledge?”

Hiraṇyakaśipu then turned to his son and enquired, “Who has taught you this inauspicious knowledge which your teachers deny teaching? Answer now.”

Prahlāda replied, “O father, due to their inability to control their senses, materially inclined people repeatedly enter this cycle of re-births (samsāra) with is filled with utter darkness and continue to perform the same fruitive actions again and again, only to experience the same outcome again and again”.

Such persons consider this worldly life to be end goal of life. They consider themselves to be the body and household pleasures to be Vaikunṭha. Normally people get overly attached to the house they have constructed. Their focus is only upon the house. They forget that this house is temporary. The permanent house is elsewhere. Saint Purandaradasa has sung, “alli ide namma mane. Illi yaka summane?” – our real house is elsewhere. Why have I come here simply?

This house with all its doors and windows attracts dacoits. It is difficult to live in it. Yet these materially inclined persons fight among themselves for this land and house. They end up losing their lives. Is this liberation? This is nothing but ignorance.

Prahlāda said, “Maha-vishnu is the only real God. O father, seeing these living entities repeatedly entering this darkness called samsāra, my heart grieves”.

Nārāyana