In the previous episode, we had witnessed Little Prahlaada’s growing up, and how he was totally immersed in the Bhakti of Bhagawan Narayana. Although being born to a Raakshasa by name Hiranya Kashibu, Prahlaada was deep-rooted on Bhagawan Narayana and was steadfast in his approach, although his father is trying all tricks in the trade to move him away from this. Thus, we had witnessed yesterday that Hiranya Kashibu had sent Prahlaada to the formal “Gurukula” under the guidance of Chanda and Amarka. The instruction given to the teachers is that they should make Prahlaada forget Bhagawan Vishnu and immerse him into the “devotion” of Hiranya Kashibu. Thus, Chanda and Amarka welcome Prahlaada to the Gurukula and try to teach the “Mantra” – “Om Hiranyaaya Namah”. However, the little child hears this as “Om Namo Narayanaya Namah” and repeats it firmly with all his Bhakti. As Prahlaada couldn’t hear anything else around him, except for the “Narayana Mantra”, he only kept repeating the same thing like a parrot.
Frustrated by this, both Chanda and Amarka take Prahlaada back to Hiranya Kashibu and say thus, “Oh Hiranya! We tried to teach your son in the best way we can, however, your son is unwilling to learn any lesson from us! His only focus is that Narayana and is incorrigible to change! Hence, we’re not interested in wasting our time and teaching him anymore. You may feel free to find another teacher for him, who can deal with his arrogance and stubbornness!” Saying thus, Chanda and Amarka leave the place. After they leave, Hiranya Kashibu calls little Prahlaada by his side and asks him lovingly thus, “Oh Prahlaada! Now that you’ve come back from the Gurukula, your father wants to know what all have you learnt there! So can you please tell me?” Upon this, Little Prahlaada replies to his father thus, “Oh father! My teachers taught me very well! They taught me to chant the sacred Mantra, “Om Namo Narayanaya Namah”!
Upon hearing this from the little child, Hiranya Kashibu was shell-shocked! He was very sure that Chanda and Amarka wouldn’t have taught this to Prahlaada. There was somebody else behind this. He asks Prahlaada thus, “Oh! I’m sure your teachers wouldn’t have taught you this. There is someone else behind this. Tell me who is teaching you all unwanted things? I want to know who that person is!” Child as he was, Prahlaada couldn’t understand what his father was asking him. He replies from his heart thus, “Oh father! This is nobody’s conspiracy. I just repeated what my teachers taught me. I heard what I chanted and I chanted what I heard! There is nobody who is instigating me to do anything!” Hearing this from Prahlaada, Hiranya Kashibu couldn’t understand what to do for a moment! He was taken aback! He was confused! For the first time in his life, someone has challenged him – And that too, the person who is challenging him is none other than his own darling son!
Thinking thus, Hiranya Kashibu comes to a conclusion – He decides to “interview” his son and probe him more. He now asks Prahlaada thus, “Oh Prahlaada! If there is nobody who is instigating you to go behind this stupid Narayana, how are you getting this thought of going behind him? Is there someone internal within you, who is instigating? Tell me the truth!” Upon being questioned by Hiranya Kashibu thus, Little Prahlaada calmly replies, “Oh father! Whoever is within you, is the same person who is within me also! He is none other than Bhagawan Narayana!” Hearing thus, Hiranya Kashibu probes further, “Oh Prahlaada! If that is the case, who is he? Can you describe him?” Prahlaada replies, “Oh Father! It is not possible to describe him! He is beyond all descriptions!” Hiranya Kashibu probes further thus, “Oh really? In that case, show him to me! I shall see him myself and know!” Upon this, Prahlaada drops the next “riddle” thus, “Oh father! Bhagawan Narayana cannot be seen with our naked eyes! He is omni-present! He is everywhere and is an embodiment of all the creations in this world!” Hiranya Kashibu probes further thus, “Oh! We can’t see him isn’t it? Can I touch him?” Prahlaada replies, “Not possible! You cannot touch him!” Hiranya Kashibu asks further, “Oh wow! Can I smell him through my nose?” Prahlaada replies the negative to this also!
Finally Hiranya Kashibu asks Prahlaada thus, “Oh Prahlaada! If we can’t understand Narayana through any of the above ways and means, how else can we understand him?” Prahlaada sarcastically replies thus, “Oh father! It is not possible to understand Bhagawan Narayana at all!” However, He is there everywhere! That’s His speciality!” Upon hearing thus, Hiranya Kashibu was confused to bits! He didn’t understand what was Prahlaada trying to tell here. We should understand that Prahlaada was a “Mahatma” and his answers cannot be understood just by the very outline of it. There were deep meanings within each and every sentence that Prahlaada uttered, which went into Hiranya Kashibu’s “spiritually deaf” ears! Now what is Hiranya Kashibu going to do next? Is he going to take Prahlaada to task straightaway for acting against his wishes? An absorbing accord awaits us in the next episode! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 