In the previous episode, we had witnessed yet another gimmick of Hiranya Kashibu to be spoilt by the Prahlaada-Bhagawan Vishnu combine, and this leaves Hiranya Kashibu extremely furious. He’s clearly being taken for a ride here. The more frustrating thing for Hiranya Kashibu is that, his own son is the culprit behind the entire scene! As the “mountain and ocean bids” fail to take off, Hiranya Kashibu starts having a doubt on his ministers who had been assigned the tasks till now. He was doubting whether they’re really throwing Prahlaada into the ocean or rolling him down from the mountain or not. He had a doubt whether their love and affection towards the little child overpowered their duty. Thinking thus, Hiranya Kashibu now decides to take it upon himself, and not to depend upon anybody else for this task. He thinks of the next bid to get rid of Prahlaada once and for all. As he interrogates Prahlaada one more time, he finds that Prahlaada is deep-rooted in his Bhakti towards Bhagawan Vishnu, and nothing is going to change him ever. Thus, Hiranya Kashibu decides to put an end to his son, no matter whether his affection overpowered his action or not.
Thinking thus, Hiranya Kashibu makes a savage resolution. The next plan is made – After the mountain and ocean bids, it is now going to be the “snake bid”! Yes! Hiranya Kashibu is going to let Prahlaada inside a place where there are extremely poisonous cobras raging in fury! He thus takes Little Prahlaada to the place where there are hundreds of snakes hissing at the same time! It is a very scary sight for all of us, even if we find one such snake, isn’t it? 🙂 Now, Prahlaada is subjected to hundreds of such snakes at the same time, all around him! Hiranya Kashibu leaves Prahlaada into that room, full of snakes and mercilessly walks back to his palace! As usual, Little Prahlaada isn’t going to get bogged down to all these threats! His devotion towards Bhagawan Narayana is only rising northwards, and that too, exponentially, minute after minute. He goes into a state of stillness, with a single-pointed focus towards Bhagawan Narayana! With folded hands, Little Prahlaada prays to Bhagawan Vishnu thus, “Oh Bhagawan! You’re in the “Sesha-Shayana” position on top of Bhagawan Aadisesha, isn’t it? It’s very fortunate that at the moment I’m surrounded by innumerable snakes, which are all embodiments of Bhagawan Aadisesha! How can I ever thank you for giving me such a golden opportunity to interact with your ardent devotees? Oh Bhagawan! I pray to you only for one thing – Please make my father understand your real form and significance. It’s only because he doesn’t know about you, he’s doing all whatever he’s doing. Hence, please do the needful!”
As Prahlaada prays ardently thus, all the snakes come closer to him and start circumventing him with devotion! None of the snakes dare to touch Little Prahlaada – The Mahatma! All the snakes worship Little Prahlaada at the same time, and join hands with him to pray to Bhagawan Vishnu in unison! The bid to kill Prahlaada gets foiled yet again! We can clearly see here that devotion towards Bhagawan Vishnu (Bhagawad Bhakti) can be more powerful than any other force in this world to reckon. The Bhakti which Prahlaada is displaying here, is clearly saving him from all sort of death traps that his father is laying for him.
Having said thus, Little Prahlaada comes out of that place unscathed yet again! He thus walks back to the palace where Hiranya Kashibu was sitting. Upon seeing Prahlaada walking back, Hiranya Kashibu couldn’t believe his eyes yet again! He was wondering what exactly is happening here! How come Prahlaada escapes such treacherous death traps so easily like this? He’s doing this in a canter! Hiranya Kashibu’s fears only start increasing more and more, and there’s clearly someone who’s outsmarting him everytime! He starts doubting whether Bhagawan Brahma’s boons are really working or not! He doubts whether Bhagawan Brahma has given some more powerful boons to this Narayana! This is obviously heights of ignorance, and this is something that all of us can laugh about! 🙂
So what’s going to be Hiranya Kashibu’s next move? Is he going to relent from his stance atleast now? Is he going to accept the existence of Bhagawan Narayana, or is he going to “up the ante” against Little Prahlaada even more? Let’s wait for the next episode to find out! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 