SB7.5.25

TEXT 25

niśamyaitat suta-vaco

hiraṇyakaśipus tadā

guru-putram uvācedaṁ

ruṣā prasphuritādharaḥ

SYNONYMS

niśamya—hearing; etat—this; suta-vacaḥ—speech from his son; hiraṇyakaśipuḥ—Hiraṇyakaśipu; tadā—at that time; guru-putram—unto the son of Śukrācārya, his spiritual master; uvāca—spoke; idam—this; ruṣā—with anger; prasphurita—trembling; adharaḥ—whose lips.

TRANSLATION

After hearing these words of devotional service from the mouth of his son Prahlāda, Hiraṇyakaśipu was extremely angry. His lips trembling, he spoke as follows to Ṣaṇḍa the son of his guru, Śukrācārya.

SB7.5.26

TEXT 26

brahma-bandho kim etat te

vipakṣaṁ śrayatāsatā

asāraṁ grāhito bālo

mām anādṛtya durmate

SYNONYMS

brahma-bandho—O unqualified son of a brāhmaṇa; kim etat—what is this; te—by you; vipakṣam—the party of my enemies; śrayatā—taking shelter of; asatā—most mischievous; asāram—nonsense; grāhitaḥ—taught; bālaḥ—the boy; mām—me; anādṛtya—not caring for; durmate—O foolish teacher.

TRANSLATION

O unqualified, most heinous son of a brāhmaṇa, you have disobeyed my order and taken shelter of the party of my enemies. You have taught this poor boy about devotional service! What is this nonsense?

PURPORT

TEXT 27

santi hy asādhavo loke

durmaitrāś chadma-veṣiṇaḥ

teṣām udety aghaṁ kāle

rogaḥ pātakinām iva

SYNONYMS

santi—are; hi—indeed; asādhavaḥ—dishonest persons; loke—within this world; durmaitrāḥ—cheating friends; chadma-veṣiṇaḥ—wearing false garbs; teṣām—of all of them; udeti—arises; agham—the reaction of sinful life; kāle—in due course of time; rogaḥ—disease; pātakinām—of sinful men; iva—like.

TRANSLATION

In due course of time, various types of diseases are manifest in those who are sinful. Similarly, in this world there are many deceptive friends in false garbs, but eventually, because of their false behavior, their actual enmity becomes manifest.

PURPORT

Being anxious about the education of his boy Prahlāda, Hiraṇyakaśipu was very much dissatisfied. When Prahlāda began teaching about devotional service, Hiraṇyakaśipu immediately regarded the teachers as his enemies in the garb of friends. In this verse the words rogaḥ pātakinām iva refer to disease, which is the most sinful and miserable of the conditions of material life (janma-mṛtyu jarā-vyādhi). Disease is the symptom of the body of a sinful person. The smṛti-śāstras say,

brahma-hā kṣaya-rogī syāt
surāpaḥ śyāvadantakaḥ
svarṇa-hārī tu kunakhī
duścarmā guru-talpagaḥ

TEXT 28

śrī-guru-putra uvāca

na mat-praṇītaṁ na para-praṇītaṁ

suto vadaty eṣa tavendra-śatro

naisargikīyaṁ matir asya rājan

niyaccha manyuṁ kad adāḥ sma mā naḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-guru-putraḥ uvāca—the son of Śukrācārya, Hiraṇyakaśipu’s spiritual master, said; na—not; mat-praṇītam—educated by me; na—nor; para-praṇītam—educated by anyone else; sutaḥ—the son (Prahlāda); vadati—says; eṣaḥ—this; tava—your; indra-śatro—O enemy of King Indra; naisargikī—natural; iyam—this; matiḥ—inclination; asya—of him; rājan—O King; niyaccha—give up; manyum—your anger; kat—fault; adāḥ—attribute; sma—indeed; mā—do not; naḥ—unto us.

TRANSLATION

The son of Śukrācārya, Hiraṇyakaśipu’s spiritual master, said: O enemy of King Indra, O King! Whatever your son Prahlāda has said was not taught to him by me or anyone else. His spontaneous devotional service has naturally developed in him. Therefore, please give up your anger and do not unnecessarily accuse us. It is not good to insult a brāhmaṇa in this way.

SB7.5.29

TEXT 29

śrī-nārada uvāca

guruṇaivaṁ pratiprokto

bhūya āhāsuraḥ sutam

na ced guru-mukhīyaṁ te

kuto ’bhadrāsatī matiḥ

SYNONYMS

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca—Nārada Muni said; guruṇā—by the teacher; evam—thus; pratiproktaḥ—being answered; bhūyaḥ—again; āha—said; asuraḥ—the great demon, Hiraṇyakaśipu; sutam—unto his son; na—not; cet—if; guru-mukhī—issued from the mouth of your teacher; iyam—this; te—your; kutaḥ—from where; abhadra—O inauspicious one; asatī—very bad; matiḥ—inclination.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Nārada Muni continued: When Hiraṇyakaśipu received this reply from the teacher, he again addressed his son Prahlāda. Hiraṇyakaśipu said: You rascal, most fallen of our family, if you have not received this education from your teachers, where have you gotten it?

PURPORT

TEXT 30

śrī-prahrāda uvāca

matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā

mitho ’bhipadyeta gṛha-vratānām

adānta-gobhir viśatāṁ tamisraṁ

punaḥ punaś carvita-carvaṇānām

SYNONYMS

śrī-prahrādaḥ uvāca—Prahlāda Mahārāja said; matiḥ—inclination; na—never; kṛṣṇe—unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; parataḥ—from the instructions of others; svataḥ—from their own understanding; vā—either; mithaḥ—from combined effort; abhipadyeta—is developed; gṛha-vratānām—of persons too addicted to the materialistic, bodily conception of life; adānta—uncontrolled; gobhiḥ—by the senses; viśatām—entering; tamisram—hellish life; punaḥ—again; punaḥ—again; carvita—things already chewed; carvaṇānām—who are chewing.

TRANSLATION

Prahlāda Mahārāja replied: Because of their uncontrolled senses, persons too addicted to materialistic life make progress toward hellish conditions and repeatedly chew that which has already been chewed. Their inclinations toward Kṛṣṇa are never aroused, either by the instructions of others, by their own efforts, or by a combination of both.

PURPORT

TEXT 31

na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇuṁ

durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ

andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānās

te ’pīśa-tantryām uru-dāmni baddhāḥ

SYNONYMS

na—not; te—they; viduḥ—know; sva-artha-gatim—the ultimate goal of life, or their own real interest; hi—indeed; viṣṇum—Lord Viṣṇu and His abode; durāśayāḥ—being ambitious to enjoy this material world; ye—who; bahiḥ—external sense objects; artha-māninaḥ—considering as valuable; andhāḥ—persons who are blind; yathā—just as; andhaiḥ—by other blind men; upanīyamānāḥ—being led; te—they; api—although; īśa-tantryām—to the ropes (laws) of material nature; uru—having very strong; dāmni—cords; baddhāḥ—bound.

TRANSLATION

Persons who are strongly entrapped by the consciousness of enjoying material life, and who have therefore accepted as their leader or guru a similar blind man attached to external sense objects, cannot understand that the goal of life is to return home, back to Godhead, and engage in the service of Lord Viṣṇu. As blind men guided by another blind man miss the right path and fall into a ditch, materially attached men led by another materially attached man are bound by the ropes of fruitive labor, which are made of very strong cords, and they continue again and again in materialistic life, suffering the threefold miseries.

PURPORT

TEXT 32

naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ

spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ

mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekaṁ

niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat

SYNONYMS

na—not; eṣām—of these; matiḥ—the consciousness; tāvat—that long; urukrama-aṅghrim—the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is famous for performing uncommon activities; spṛśati—does touch; anartha—of unwanted things; apagamaḥ—the disappearance; yat—of which; arthaḥ—the purpose; mahīyasām—of the great souls (the mahātmās, or devotees); pāda-rajaḥ—by the dust of the lotus feet; abhiṣekam—consecration; niṣkiñcanānām—of devotees who have nothing to do with this material world; na—not; vṛṇīta—may accept; yāvat—as long as.

TRANSLATION

Unless they smear upon their bodies the dust of the lotus feet of a Vaiṣṇava completely freed from material contamination, persons very much inclined toward materialistic life cannot be attached to the lotus feet of the Lord, who is glorified for His uncommon activities. Only by becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious and taking shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord in this way can one be freed from material contamination.

PURPORT

Becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious brings about anartha-apagamaḥ, the disappearance of all anarthas, the miserable conditions we have unnecessarily accepted. The material body is the basic principle of these unwanted miserable conditions. The entire Vedic civilization is meant to relieve one from these unwanted miseries, but persons bound by the laws of nature do not know the destination of life. As described in the previous verse, īśa-tantryām uru-dāmni baddhāḥ: they are conditioned by the three strong modes of material nature. The education that keeps the conditioned soul bound life after life is called materialistic education. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has explained that materialistic education expands the influence of māyā. Such an education induces the conditioned soul to be increasingly attracted to materialistic life and to stray further and further away from liberation from unwanted miseries.

TEXT 33

ity uktvoparataṁ putraṁ

hiraṇyakaśipū ruṣā

andhīkṛtātmā svotsaṅgān

nirasyata mahī-tale

SYNONYMS

iti—thus; uktvā—speaking; uparatam—stopped; putram—the son; hiraṇyakaśipuḥ—Hiraṇyakaśipu; ruṣā—with great anger; andhīkṛta-ātmā—made blind to self-realization; sva-utsaṅgāt—from his lap; nirasyata—threw; mahī-tale—upon the ground.

TRANSLATION

After Prahlāda Mahārāja had spoken in this way and become silent, Hiraṇyakaśipu, blinded by anger, threw him off his lap and onto the ground.

SB7.5.34

TEXT 34

āhāmarṣa-ruṣāviṣṭaḥ

kaṣāyī-bhūta-locanaḥ

vadhyatām āśv ayaṁ vadhyo

niḥsārayata nairṛtāḥ

SYNONYMS

āha—he said; amarṣa—indignation; ruṣā—and by severe anger; āviṣṭaḥ—overpowered; kaṣāyī-bhūta—becoming exactly like red-hot copper; locanaḥ—whose eyes; vadhyatām—let him be killed; āśu—immediately; ayam—this; vadhyaḥ—who is to be killed; niḥsārayata—take away; nairṛtāḥ—O demons.

TRANSLATION

Indignant and angry, his reddish eyes like molten copper, Hiraṇyakaśipu said to his servants: O demons, take this boy away from me! He deserves to be killed. Kill him as soon as possible!

SB7.5.35

TEXT 35

ayaṁ me bhrātṛ-hā so ’yaṁ

hitvā svān suhṛdo ’dhamaḥ

pitṛvya-hantuḥ pādau yo

viṣṇor dāsavad arcati

SYNONYMS

ayam—this; me—my; bhrātṛ-hā—killer of the brother; saḥ—he; ayam—this; hitvā—giving up; svān—own; suhṛdaḥ—well-wishers; adhamaḥ—very low; pitṛvya-hantuḥ—of He who killed his uncle Hiraṇyākṣa; pādau—at the two feet; yaḥ—he who; viṣṇoḥ—of Lord Viṣṇu; dāsa-vat—like a servant; arcati—serves.

TRANSLATION

This boy Prahlāda is the killer of my brother, for he has given up his family to engage in the devotional service of the enemy, Lord Viṣṇu, like a menial servant.

PURPORT

TEXT 36

viṣṇor vā sādhv asau kiṁ nu

kariṣyaty asamañjasaḥ

sauhṛdaṁ dustyajaṁ pitror

ahād yaḥ pañca-hāyanaḥ

SYNONYMS

viṣṇoḥ—unto Viṣṇu; vā—either; sādhu—good; asau—this; kim—whether; nu—indeed; kariṣyati—will do; asamañjasaḥ—not trustworthy; sauhṛdam—affectionate relationship; dustyajam—difficult to relinquish; pitroḥ—of his father and mother; ahāt—gave up; yaḥ—he who; pañca-hāyanaḥ—only five years old.

TRANSLATION

Although Prahlāda is only five years old, even at this young age he has given up his affectionate relationship with his father and mother. Therefore, he is certainly untrustworthy. Indeed, it is not at all believable that he will behave well toward Viṣṇu.

SB7.5.37

TEXT 37

paro ’py apatyaṁ hita-kṛd yathauṣadhaṁ

sva-dehajo ’py āmayavat suto ’hitaḥ

chindyāt tad aṅgaṁ yad utātmano ’hitaṁ

śeṣaṁ sukhaṁ jīvati yad-vivarjanāt

SYNONYMS

paraḥ—not belonging to the same group or family; api—although; apatyam—a child; hita-kṛt—who is beneficial; yathā—just as; auṣadham—remedial herb; sva-deha-jaḥ—born of one’s own body; api—although; āmaya-vat—like a disease; sutaḥ—a son; ahitaḥ—who is not a well-wisher; chindyāt—one should cut off; tat—that; aṅgam—part of the body; yat—which; uta—indeed; ātmanaḥ—for the body; ahitam—not beneficial; śeṣam—the balance; sukham—happily; jīvati—lives; yat—of which; vivarjanāt—by cutting off.

TRANSLATION

Although a medicinal herb, being born in the forest, does not belong to the same category as a man, if beneficial it is kept very carefully. Similarly, if someone outside one’s family is favorable, he should be given protection like a son. On the other hand, if a limb of one’s body is poisoned by disease, it must be amputated so that the rest of the body may live happily. Similarly, even one’s own son, if unfavorable, must be rejected, although born of one’s own body.

PURPORT

TEXT 38

sarvair upāyair hantavyaḥ

sambhoja-śayanāsanaiḥ

suhṛl-liṅga-dharaḥ śatrur

muner duṣṭam ivendriyam

SYNONYMS

sarvaiḥ—by all; upāyaiḥ—means; hantavyaḥ—must be killed; sambhoja—by eating; śayana—lying down; āsanaiḥ—by sitting; suhṛt-liṅga-dharaḥ—who has assumed the role of a friend; śatruḥ—an enemy; muneḥ—of a great sage; duṣṭam—uncontrollable; iva—like; indriyam—the senses.

TRANSLATION

Just as uncontrolled senses are the enemies of all yogīs engaged in advancing in spiritual life, this Prahlāda, who appears to be a friend, is an enemy because I cannot control him. Therefore this enemy, whether eating, sitting or sleeping, must be killed by all means.

PURPORT

TEXTS 39–40

nairṛtās te samādiṣṭā

bhartrā vai śūla-pāṇayaḥ

tigma-daṁṣṭra-karālāsyās

tāmra-śmaśru-śiroruhāḥ

nadanto bhairavaṁ nādaṁ

chindhi bhindhīti vādinaḥ

āsīnaṁ cāhanañ śūlaiḥ

prahrādaṁ sarva-marmasu

SYNONYMS

nairṛtāḥ—the demons; te—they; samādiṣṭāḥ—being fully advised; bhartrā—by their master; vai—indeed; śūla-pāṇayaḥ—having tridents in their hands; tigma—very sharp; daṁṣṭra—teeth; karāla—and fearful; āsyāḥ—faces; tāmra-śmaśru—coppery mustaches; śiroruhāḥ—and hair on the head; nadantaḥ—vibrating; bhairavam—fearful; nādam—sound; chindhi—chop; bhindhi—divide into small parts; iti—thus; vādinaḥ—speaking; āsīnam—who was sitting silently; ca—and; ahanan—attacked; śūlaiḥ—with their tridents; prahrādam—Prahlāda Mahārāja; sarva-marmasu—on the tender parts of the body.

TRANSLATION

The demons [Rākṣasas], the servants of Hiraṇyakaśipu, thus began striking the tender parts of Prahlāda Mahārāja’s body with their tridents. The demons all had fearful faces, sharp teeth and reddish, coppery beards and hair, and they appeared extremely threatening. Making a tumultuous sound, shouting, “Chop him up! Pierce him!” they began striking Prahlāda Mahārāja, who sat silently, meditating upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

SB7.5.41

TEXT 41

pare brahmaṇy anirdeśye

bhagavaty akhilātmani

yuktātmany aphalā āsann

apuṇyasyeva sat-kriyāḥ

SYNONYMS

pare—in the supreme; brahmaṇi—absolute; anirdeśye—who is not perceivable by the senses; bhagavati—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; akhila-ātmani—the Supersoul of everyone; yukta-ātmani—on he whose mind was engaged (Prahlāda); aphalāḥ—without effect; āsan—were; apuṇyasya—of a person who has no assets in pious activities; iva—like; sat-kriyāḥ—good activities (like the performance of sacrifices or austerities).

TRANSLATION

Even though a person who has no assets in pious activities performs some good deed, it will have no result. Thus the weapons of the demons had no tangible effects upon Prahlāda Mahārāja because he was a devotee undisturbed by material conditions and fully engaged in meditating upon and serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is unchangeable, who cannot be realized by the material senses, and who is the soul of the entire universe.

PURPORT

Prahlāda Mahārāja was constantly and fully engaged in thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As it is said, govinda-parirambhitaḥ. Prahlāda Mahārāja engaged himself always in meditation, and thus he was protected by Govinda. Just as a small child on the lap of his father or mother is fully protected, a devotee, in all conditions, is protected by the Supreme Lord. Does this mean that when Prahlāda Mahārāja was attacked by the demons, the Rākṣasas, Govinda was also attacked by the demons? This is not possible. There have been many attempts by the demons to hurt or kill the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but He cannot be injured by any material means because He is always in transcendence. Therefore the words pare brahmaṇi are used here. The demons, the Rākṣasas, can neither see nor touch the Supreme Lord, although they may superficially think that they are striking the Lord’s transcendental body with their material weapons. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is described in this verse as anirdeśye. We cannot understand Him to be in a particular place, for He is all-pervasive. Moreover, He is akhilātmā, the active principle of everything, even material weapons. Those who cannot understand the position of the Lord are unfortunate. They may think that they can kill the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotee, but all their attempts will be futile. The Lord knows how to deal with them.

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