Hiranyakasipu was so angry that he was cursing his young son Prahlad over and over. “You rascal, you think you are better than me? You think there is a supreme being other than me who is above everything? Where is He? If He is everywhere, why is He not present before me in this pillar?” Hiranyakasipu got up with his sword in hand and struck his fist against the pillar. Then he heard it! It was a most fearful sound, so loud and penetrating it seemed to crack the covering of the universe. Hiranyakasipu looked around trying to discover the source of the sound.
Lord Nrsimhadeva, half man and half lion
Just then the wonderful form of the Supreme Lord Vishnu, Lord Nrsimhadeva, who is half man and half lion emerged from the pillar. Hiranyakasipu studied Him trying to decide who He was. Lord Nrsimhadeva looked fearsome with His angry eyes, shining mane, deadly teeth, razor-sharp tongue moving like a dueling sword, and mighty arms spread in all directions. With His jaws parted fearfully, His nostrils and gaping mouth appeared like caves in a mountain!
Hiranyakasipu said to himself, “Lord Vishnu has arranged to kill me, but what is the use of such a plan? Who can fight me? I am undefeatable!”
Remembering how Lord Vishnu in His form of Varaha, the boar, had killed his brother Hiranyaksha many years ago, made Hiranyakasipu so angry. He had accused the Supreme Lord of being partial to His devotees and in his mind this proved that Lord Vishnu was under the influence of the modes of nature. Thus he thought Lord Vishnu was an ordinary person and could be killed. This anger consumed Hiranyakasipu. Day and night, that is all he thought about. Hiranyakasipu needed a plan to become immortal and then he would kill Lord Vishnu.
He remembered how he had left his palace and went to the valley of Mandara Hill. There he began performing extremely difficult austerities by standing with his toes on the ground, keeping his arms upward and looking toward the sky. After many, many years of these severe austerities, mystically, fire started emanating from his head and that fire and smoke spread throughout the universe. Everything became extremely hot. All the rivers and oceans were agitated. The mountains and islands on the surface of the planets began trembling and the stars and planets fell. All directions were ablaze!
Hiranyakasipu wanted to become so powerful by his austerities that he could reverse the results of pious and impious activities. He wanted to overturn all established practices throughout the world. The demigods understanding the danger went to Lord Brahma, who created the universe, and implored him: “We have heard from a reliable source that Hiranyakasipu is engaged in these austerities so he can obtain your post! Please, without delay, take whatever steps you deem appropriate.”
Lord Brahma was Astonished with Hiranyakasipu’s Austerities
Lord Brahma had been waiting for Hiranyakasipu’s austerities to mature. He took advantage of this time to go with all the demigods to see Hiranyakasipu. At first Lord Brahma could not find him. Since Hiranyakasipu had been there for such a long time, his body was covered by an anthill, grass and bamboo. The ants had devoured his body. Lord Brahma was astonished that Hiranyakasipu could keep his life air circulating within only his bones!
Lord Brahma told him: “With your great determination and austerity you have done what was impossible even for great saintly persons. For this reason I am now prepared to give you all benedictions, according to your desire.” Then Lord Brahma sprinkled spiritual water from his kamandalu pot upon Hiranyakasipu’s body. Immediately Hiranyakasipu emerged with an effulgent body, with limbs so strong they could withstand the striking of a thunderbolt. He emerged from the anthill a completely young man!
Seeing Lord Brahma before him, Hiranyakasipu was very pleased. He offered his obeisances and prayers. Then, consumed by his desire to be immortal, he asked for his benediction: “Please let me not meet death from any of the living entities created by you. Grant me that I will not die within any residence or outside any residence, during the daytime or at night, nor on the ground or in the sky. Grant me that my death will not be brought by any weapon, not by any demigod, demon, great snake, human or animal.” On and on Hiranyakasipu went. He was sure he covered all conceivable circumstances so that he would live forever. Lord Brahma, who was very satisfied by Hiranyakasipu’s austerities, said: “These benedictions are difficult to obtain for most men. Nonetheless, I shall grant them to you.”
Now that Hiranyakasipu was so powerful, no one could defeat him. He went everywhere he wanted and took whatever he desired. He even chased Lord Indra out of his own palace and took the throne for himself. In this way Hiranyakasipu terrorized the whole universe!
In time Hiranyakasipu’s wife Kayadhu gave birth to a son named Prahlad. He wanted his son to become trained as a diplomatic king so that one day he could rule his kingdom, or even the whole world. He sent him to school at Sukracharya’s ashram, who was his own spiritual master. Sukracharya’s two sons, Sanda and Amarka began teaching Prahlad his lessons. After some time, Hiranyakasipu had Prahlad brought before him. Prahlad fell at his father’s feet and affectionately Hiranyakasipu lifted Prahlad onto his lap. Hiranyakasipu was very happy and asked Prahlad: “You have been learning so many things for such as long time. Please repeat to me whatever you think is the best of that knowledge.”
Prahlad said: “Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Vishnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, worshiping and offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one’s best friend, and surrendering everything unto to Him. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Krishna through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.”
“What!” Hearing this Hiranyakasipu was furious. He was so angry, his lips were trembling. He screamed at his son’s teachers: “You have taught this poor boy about devotional service! What is this nonsense?” The teachers pleaded with Hiranyakasipu that they did not teach him any of these things; rather, Prahlad must have learned them naturally.
Prahlad Taught His Classmates the Chanting of the Lord’s Holy Names
None of them realized that when Prahlad was in the womb of his mother, Narada Muni gave instructions on spiritual life to his mother. Prahlad being an advanced pure devotee heard and learned these instructions even from within his mother’s womb.
Now in school, his teachers tried over and over but failed to instruct Prahlad in material advancement. In fact, when the teachers would leave the classroom, Prahlad would begin teaching his classmates this transcendental knowledge that he received from Narada Muni. Prahlad would say to his friends: “The human form of life affords one a chance to return home, back to Godhead. Every living entity must engage in devotional service to the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu. Even from the tender age of childhood, one should practice the activities of devotional service, giving up all other engagements.”
Hiranyakasipu Tried to Kill Prahlad in so Many Ways
Finally, Hiranyakasipu could not tolerate it anymore and he was determined to cut out this cancerous growth from his family. Hiranyakasipu decided to kill his son. He threw him beneath the feet of big elephants, threw him among huge fearful snakes, used spells and illusory tricks, hurled him from a mountain top, poisoned and then starved him, exposed him to severe cold, wind, fire and water, and threw giant stones to crush him. Nevertheless, Prahlad was not hurt in any way. Not only that, but Prahlad was fearless. Prahlad could understand that if Krishna wants someone dead, no one can save him and if Krishna wants someone alive, no one can kill him. Having full faith in Krishna’s will, Prahlad was fearless from all danger.
Prahlad was again brought to his father Hiranyakasipu, who was extremely angry! He said: “By whose power has a rascal like you become so impudent that you appear fearless and overstep my power to rule you?” Prahlad calmly replied: “My dear king, the source of my strength is also the source of yours. Indeed, the source of all kinds of strength is the Supreme Lord Vishnu.” Hiranyakasipu angrily replied: “You rascal, you think you are better than me? You think there is a supreme being other than me who is above everything? Where is He? If He is everywhere, why is He not present before me in this pillar?”
Hiranyakasipu Attacks Lord Nrsimhadeva
Then Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared from the pillar. Seeing Lord Vishnu before him in His form of Nrsimhadeva, Hiranyakasipu was glad to finally have this chance to kill Him. For so long he thought about this day and now it was finally here. Unafraid of the Lord, he attacked Him like an elephant. But just as a small insect falls into a fire, Hiranyakasipu disappeared into the Lord’s mighty effulgence. Then the Lord playfully allowed Hiranyakasipu to slip from His grasp, just like Garuda sometimes allows a snake to slip from his mouth before killing it. Seeing this, the demigods who were watching, became extremely nervous considering the possibility that he may escape! Meanwhile, Hiranyakasipu thought: “Oh the Lord is afraid of my prowess.” Allowing Hiranyakasipu a little rest, during the twilight of the evening Lord Nrsimhadeva captured Hiranyakasipu, placed him on his lap and in the doorway of the assembly hall, tore him to pieces with His nails.
Lord Nrsimhadeva tore him to pieces with His nails
To keep the promises of Lord Brahma, Lord Nrsimhadeva placed the demon’s body on his lap, which was neither land nor sky. He killed him in the evening which is the end of the day and the beginning of the night, but is neither day nor night. He killed him with his nails, which were not weapons and He is neither a man nor an animal, but half man and half animal. In this way Lord Nrsimhadeva very easily killed the great demon Hiranyakasipu but kept intact all of Lord Brahma’s benedictions.
Lord Nrsimhadeva was still extremely angry and ferocious. Cautiously, all of the demigods including Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, King Indra, and many saintly persons offered their prayers of glorification and praise to Lord Nrsimhadeva. However sweet their words were, they did not pacify the Lord’s fearful anger. They dared not approach Him. However they understood that the Lord was willing to exhibit His affection to the little boy Prahlad, so they all pushed him forward and requested he appease the Lord.
Seeing Prahlad prostrated at His lotus feet, Lord Nrsimhadeva became ecstatic in affection towards His devotee. Raising Prahlad, the Lord placed His lotus hand upon the boy’s head. Gradually with his voice faltering, Prahlad started offering loving prayers to the Supreme Lord.
The Lord became ecstatic with affection towards Prahlad
Prahlad expressed how fallen he was and unable to glorify the Lord properly. He said to the Lord: “My dear Lord, I request You to place me in touch with Your pure devotee and let me serve him as a sincere servant.” Being compassionate to all living entities, Prahlad continued: “I see that there are many saintly persons who are only interested in their own deliverance… As for me, I do not wish to be liberated alone leaving aside those poor fools and rascals… Therefore I wish to bring them back to the shelter of Your lotus feet.” Unlike his father Hiranyakasipu who only prayed for material benedictions, Prahlad expressed that he was afraid of material conditions and prayed to be liberated from materialistic life.
Hearing the loving words of His devotee Prahlad, Lord Nrsimhadeva gradually was pacified and His anger subsided. He told Prahlad: “You are the best example of My devotee, and others should follow in your footsteps.” The Lord continued to instruct Prahlad and told him he should take charge of his father’s kingdom and keep his mind fixed on Him.
Finally all the demigods were relieved that Hiranyakasipu was dead and that the Lord was pleased. Lord Brahma himself installed Prahlad Maharaj as the king of Hiranyakasipu’s kingdom. Before the Lord and all the demigods left, Lord Nrsimhadeva instructed Lord Brahma: “I warn you not to give such benedictions to any demon again.”
This story is adapted from the seventh canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, written by the great sage, Srila Vyasadev, with English translation and commentary by Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad.