Stories from Scriptures # 19 - Bhakta Prahlad (2/3).

Story of Bhakta Prahlad

Part 2 of 3

Hiranyakashipu tried another way to kill Prahlad. He had a sister, Holika who had a boon that she would not die by fire. King Hiranyakashipu asked her to sit on a bonfire with Prahlad on her lap in the hope that this would kill Prahlad. Prahlad was not at all worried and chanted Lord Vishnu's name and was not hurt, but Holika was burned to her death. All the measures taken by the demons to kill Prahlad proved to be fruitless.

Because of this, Hiranyakashipu began to feel afraid. Once more, he forcibly sent Prahlad to the hermitage of Shand and Amark. Once there, Prahlad did take the education they offered but had no interest in their teachings. When his teachers used to get engaged in minor activities, Prahlad would assemble his fellow disciples around him and preach to them that, “Brothers, this human incarnation is not meant to be wasted. If we don't  find God in this birth, it would be a great loss. We can achieve the means to find God right in our childhood, for when we grow young, we are caught by the material wealth and nothing can be done in old age. It is very easy to find God. He is present in everyone's hearts. He is in every living being. Hence, we should not torture any creature. We should concentrate our mind in the God”.

At the age of five years, Prahlad was preaching to the demon boys. The demon boys followed him faithfully. His teachers saw that Prahlad's teachings were against demonic traditions, Prahlad was sent back to Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu decided to kill Prahlad with his own hands. He tied Prahlad to a pillar. Hiranyakashipu asked in a loud voice: “O fool, with whose powers you have been humiliating me with? Now, I am going to kill you, call your God to save you.”

Prahlad was unconcerned replied humbly: “Father, don't be angry. Lord Vishnu is the protector of us all. I am not dishonoring you. One's own mind is his biggest enemy in the world. Lord Vishnu is everywhere. He is in me, in you, in your sword and is also present in the pillar”.

(to be continued...)