Speaker: Topic: Location/Date: HisHolinessVedavyāsapriyaSwami ŚrīmadBhāgavatam7.4.2 Hirany akaśiputerrorizestheuniverse Vṛndāvana2010 05 23
HH Vedavyāsapriya Swami: So in narrating the pastimes of Lord Nrsimhadeva the prelude that we setup yesterday... I mean the day before yesterday was about the divine and demoniac natures; [indistinct] and the Prahlad Maharaj and his character versus Hiranỵakaśipu as the demon the greatest of the devotees versus the greatest of the demons. One is a materialistic and one is a spiritualist; how the force of material nature is trying to contradict the spiritual nature and how spiritual nature overrides and overpowers the demoniac nature (BG 7.14, SB 10.2.30). Means... Besides the inferior energy, Krṣṇạ s superior energy is there, even though it is all pervasive, it s everywhere and it is the one that sustains the inferior energy (BG 7.6 7). Yet people of envious nature in completely opposite nature whether they are completely in Maya of external energy or not. Regardless we can a kind of controversial image, a completely different mesmerising or bewildering image in front of us (SB 5.14.10). But the knowledge about the spiritual nature that is emanating from the Supreme Lord Himself coming down in disciplic succession is equally powerful to eradicate all the ignorance of illusion apparently led by the inferior energy (BG 4.2 3). So this is a war between the spiritual energy versus inferior energy. This is a war between a devotee and a demon. This is the war between Krṣṇạ consciousness ad Maya (bahiranga). If actually they are all Krṣṇạ s energy (CC Madhya 8.152 153), the source is Krṣṇạ but yet who takes whose side? That is the only difference. If we choose to take the side of Maya then we will be casted as demons. But the position of a devotee even though he is succumbed to the nature of bahiranga energy yet the soul is so confirmed and steadfast in his commitment in his surrender to the Supreme. This is a very unique position of the devotee. No other, either demigod or demon, can surpass this position of the devotee and Prahlad Maharaj will prove by his example that the he is the leader of the demigods also (SB 5.18.12). So, it is very impressing topic that we are embarking on. So, we saw how the demoniac nature was acting and how Lord Krṣṇạ is desiring His pure devotees to come over this illusion. However powerful Hiranỵakaśipu was over the power of illusion or power of Maya to become immortal, he got all the benedictions from Brahma. So, we see that Hiranỵakaśipu got all the benedictions and how are they going to be calculated or estimated in reality. Narada muni continued: Lord Brahma was very much satisfied by Hiranỵakaśipu's austerities which were difficult to perform. Therefore, when solicited for benediction he indeed granted them although they were rarely to be achieved." (SB 7.4.1 text). And Lord Brahma is pleased with Hiranỵakaśipu's austerity and because Hiranỵakaśipu was his son, and the sainted Brahma is Pitamah, he is a Prajapatih of Hiranỵakaśipu. So he wants to be little impartial and pleased by the austerity without knowing the intention of Hiranỵakaśipu. So, (Lord) Brahma said: O Hiranỵakaśipu these benedictions which you have asked for are difficult to obtain for most men. Nonetheless, my son, I shall grant you them although they are generally not available. (SB 7.4.2 text) And Prabhupada writes this in purport that those who are seeking blessings of others watch out! What kind of blessings one must ask? Prabhupada write in the purport Material benedictions are not always exactly worthy of being called benedictions. If one possesses more and more, a benediction itself may become a curse, for just as achieving material opulence in this material world requires great strength and endeavor, maintaining it also requires great endeavor. Lord Brahma informed Hiranỵakaśipu that although he was ready to offer him whatever he had asked, the result of the benedictions would be very difficult for Hiranỵakaśipu to maintain. However the materialist one may, we have so many examples in the world that even by previous karma, he may have accumulated so much pious activities by which they were materially so opulent that they were number one wealthiest man once upon a time. It did not last; rather that wealth became the cause of his death. It is a power, the material energy, the benedictions, material opulence... itself it's energy is very powerful. A time been that he can absorb or control, it's the false ego that can take him upto the level of position of the Lord Himself. So, every living entity has more or less inclination to lord it over whatever they can bring to possess but this is not
beneficial in any circumstances for anyone to have material opulence. Brahma had promised and he wanted to grant all the benedictions. The word durlabhan indicate that one should not take benedictions one can not enjoy peacefully. One must be contended with whatever one has received. If we are unable to enjoy the benedictions which we have asked, it is going to become burden. it's not easy to get away with Maya in any circumstances. So, those who are inclined to become materially happy, watch out. Happiness has luck in distress hidden behind. Actually the so called source of happiness is source of miseries not of happiness. istan bhogan hi vo deva dasyante yajna bhavitah tair dattan apradayaibhyo yo bhunkte stena eva sah Whatever the sense gratifications, are the source of miseries. Ady antavantah kaunteya na tesu ramate budhah Bhagavad Gita 5.22 Because of this temporary nature, the sober person doesn't well obtained in the subject of sense gratification or acquisition. What? So, a demoniac person inspite of acquiring all the opulences possible to obtain in this world, continues to become envious to continue enmity with Lord Visnu. That is the first character that, however he may have a desire to become Lord and master of entire material universe even though he is not. That inclination continues his animosity with Lord Visnu. So, under furtherance of Hiranỵakaśipu's acquisition, we are told that those who are seeking benedictions from the Demigods, the worship of the Demigods, Demigods themselves remain in fear of the demons. So, if a person who is worshipping the Demigods to get benedictions, what kind of benedictions he is trying to get? Those who are remaining in fear... Hiranỵakaśipu terrorize the entire Indraloka, Swargaloka, except for the three chief Brahma, Visnu, Mahesh did not worship him. But Hiranỵakaśipu made all others including Indra and we also heard last time that even pure devotees like Narada muni were also serving [indistinct]. So, fundamentally the worshippers of Demigods how In what mood they will give benedictions to their worshippers. Demigods themselves are fearful. So in fear if they give, You can see the quality of benediction. it's better knowing which all the benedictions are granted by the Supreme personality of Godhead, one has to approach directly. Na. We see in this chapter that Demigods are out of fear take shelter of Lord Visnu. They pray for their protection first and then pray for reestablishing for their functionality to carry out the function of maintaining the material world on behalf of Lord Vishnu. So, why not the worshippers of the Demigods also follow them? and worship the Supreme personality of Godhead in straight in the first sight. If you go to a person who is fearful of his own position and power that the demons also can take out, what is the necessity to go to them?go to the Supreme person directly. Surrender to Him and become subservient and ask for benediction. It is better. akamah sarva kamo va moksha kama udara dhih tivrena bhakti yogena yajeta purusham param So, we should not look for such benedictions that they are going to become troublesome. Prabhupada write that asuras sometimes become so powerful that they can even engage Narada muni and similar devotees in their service and Narada muni doesn't mind. Why? Because he is at transcendental position. He knows exactly what is the situation, what is the position of a devotee. He can work for a demon. It s not that he is forced to but he is willing on consideration that it is the desire of the Lord. That is why. Let me do the devotional service amongst the demons. So, that doesn't mean that Narada was subordinate to Hiranỵakaśipu.SB 7.4.4 Sometimes it however so happens that in this material world the great personalities even the great devotees can be controlled by asuras. But they are always surrendered soul to Lord Krṣṇạ and they take opportune moment to strike at the greatest weapon of excellent knowledge and this is how Krṣṇạ is parting to smash the greatest materialistic power of a demon in this history.with a very short shot of absolute knowledge of Prahlada Maharaj. Prahlada was equipoised. We further see that Hiranỵakaśipu even acquiring so much power, he was still dissatisfied. The cause of this dissatisfaction was misleaders of Visnu while the opposite principle of devotional service is that
sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje ahaituky apratihata yayatma suprasidati [SB 1.2.6] If a person worship the transcendental Lord with pure devotional service which is unmotivated and uninterrupted, then the self will be satisfied this was totally absent even after acquisition of the whole worldly power, all materialistic power will be [indistinct]. All worldly power will [indistinct] but we see that in spite of achieving the power to control in all directions and in spite of enjoying all types of dear sense gratifications and [indistinct] principles Hiranỵakaśipu was dissatisfied because instead of controlling his senses, he remained as their servant. Unless and until one is the servant of his senses, there is no chance for him to come to the point of surrendering to the throne self satisfaction and all that is coming as a result of pure devotional service. So, we see this is an example of asurik life. Atheistic can advance materially and create an extremely comfortable situation for the senses but because they are controlled by the senses they can not be satisfied. This is the effect of modern civilization. Materialists are very much advanced in enjoying money and women. Yet dissatisfaction prevail within the human society because human society can not be happy and peaceful without Krṣṇạ consciousness. As far as material sense gratification is concerned, materialist may go increasing their enjoyment as far as they can imagine but because people in such materialistic condition are the servants of their senses. They can not be satisfied. Hiranỵakaśipu was vivid example of this dissatisfied state of humane. So, when [indistinct] demigods who represents the Supreme Personality of Godhead of the Vedas which knew all knowledge of the cows, Brahmanas, Vaisnavas and the religious principles and ultimately of need the Supreme personality of Godhead. He and his civilization will be vanquished without delay. He had given that how one should use all the benedictions that they have received for the benefit of giving, discerning the knowledge of absolute truth to the people in general to protect the cows, brahmanas, Vaisnavas and propagating the religious principles regarding the surrender to the Supreme personality of Godhead, and then the civilization will be happy. Prahlada was one of the four sons of Hiranỵakaśipu but he was quite outstanding from the rest and we see that when Hiranỵakaśipu was very much fond of his son to be trained up in the demoniac ways of life becomes the best of the demons like himself but, he could himself would not consider second to anybody, how does he want his son to be superior even in demoniac nature? But nonetheless Prahlada rejects all the teachings of the materialistic ways of life. So, we see that when Hiranỵakaśipu teases the great devotee Prahlada, his own son, who is peaceful and sober and who has no enemy, Krṣṇạ is consoling the demigods who are praying that i will kill Hiranỵakaśipu immediately despite the benedictions of Brahma. This is the resolve of the absolute truth. It can not be turned over. So, that the demigods who have xx they went and they are thinking that because the Supreme Lord told Hiranỵakaśipu is dead they were considering him as dead and they become fearless. They become fearless. Prahlada has quality, he is greatly appreciated for teaching Krṣṇạ consciousness. Srila Prabhupada introduced Prahlada's teachings right from the very beginning because it's the foundation of Krṣṇạ consciousness. It gives, it establishes the principles of Krṣṇạ consciousness and the practicality of Krṣṇạ consciousness. So, we will concentrate on those teachings. it's through the dealings of father and the son. So, the main topic of today, Srila Prabhupada writes yasyasti bhaktir bhagavati akinchana sarvair gunas tatra samaste surah harav abhaktasya kuto mahad guna mano rathenasati dhavato bahih If One has unflinching devotion for Krṣṇạ, all the good qualities of Krṣṇạ and the demigods are constantly manifesting. This is spoken in Srimad Bhagavatam (SB 5.18.12) While on the other hand, if one is not a devotee there are no good qualities because he is always resolving to the external energies and he is always going away from the absolute truth. In the praise of Prahlada Maharaj even Narada muni has said the same thing. There are innumerable qualities that Narada muni is describing the qualities of Prahlada Maharaj, the son of Hiranỵakaśipu that he was completely cultured as a qualified Brahmana having very good character and being determined to understand the absolute truth. He had full control of his senses and mind, like the super soul he was kind to every living entity
and was friend of everyone. To respectable persons has he acted exactly like a menial servant and to the poor he was like the father. To his equals he was attached like a sympathetic brother, and he considers his teachers and spiritual master and elder God brothers to be as good as the Supreme personality of Godhead. He was completely free from unnatural pride that might have risen from his good education, reaches his beauty, aristocracy and soul. Although Prahlada Maharaj was born in the family of asuras, he himself was not a asura. But a great devotee of Lord Visnu. Unlike the other asuras he was never envious of Vaisnavas. He was not agitated when put it in a danger and he was neither indirectly or directly interested in the fruitive activities described in the Vedas. Indeed he considered everything material to be useless and therefore he was completely devoid of material desires. He always controlled his senses and life air and been in steady intelligence and determination he subdued all his lusty desires. These are the qualities, Some of the qualities Srila Prabhupada says are described of Prahlada Maharaj. They say, O King Prahlada Maharaja's good qualities are still glorified by learned saints and Vaisnavas. As all the good qualities are always found existing in the Supreme personality of Godhead, they also exist forever in His devotee Prahlada Maharaj. So, we see these good qualities are concomitant result or by product of pure devotional service. They are not to be manufactured. Mayavadis may manufacture.