Category:Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 07 Chapter 04 Purports - Hiranyakasipu Terrorizes the Universe
Pages in category "Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 07 Chapter 04 Purports - Hiranyakasipu Terrorizes the Universe"
The following 141 pages are in this category, out of 141 total.
A
- A demoniac person, in spite of acquiring all the opulences possible to obtain in this universe, continues to be envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- A devotee does not create enmity with anyone, but if someone becomes his enemy, that person will be vanquished by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, despite whatever benedictions he may have received from other sources
- A devotee is never contaminated by material conditions, but persons subjected to material conditions can become spiritually advanced and blissful upon seeing the behavior of a pure devotee
- A devotee like Narada Muni is addressed as suvrata. Su means "good," and vrata means "vow." Thus the word suvrata refers to a person who has nothing to do with the material world, which is always bad
- A devotee like Prahlada sometimes sees that the Lord is coming from a long distance to pacify him, like a mother responding to a child, saying, "My dear child, do not cry. I am coming
- A fully Krsna conscious person, although situated in this material world, does not see anything but Krsna anywhere & everywhere. This is the sign of a maha-bhagavata. The maha-bhagavata sees Krsna everywhere because of his attitude of pure love for Krsna
- A great devotee of Krsna, the son of Vasudeva, is a great soul very rarely to be found. Prahlada Maharaja's attachment for Krsna will be explained in the next verse (SB 7.4.37). Krsna-graha-grhitatma
- A man is not qualified or disqualified simply by birth. Prahlada Maharaja was an asura by birth, yet he possessed all the qualities of a perfect brahmana
- A perfect Vaisnava is also a perfect brahmana, as indicated by the words brahmanyah sila-sampannah
- A small child, while being cared for by his mother, does not know how the needs of the body for eating, sleeping, lying down, passing water and evacuating are being fulfilled. He is simply satisfied to be on the lap of his mother
- A Vaisnava is always determined to understand the Absolute Truth and to understand the Absolute Truth one needs to have full control over his senses and mind. Prahlada Maharaja possessed all these qualities. A Vaisnava is always a well-wisher to everyone
- A Vaisnava is always obedient to the spiritual master (arya). The word arya refers to one who is advanced in knowledge
- A Vaisnava like Prahlada Maharaja is described as nirvaira, having no enemies. Elsewhere in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 3.25.21) it is said: a devotee has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime
- According to their (modern scientists) experience, the moon is full of dust, but this does not explain how it gives us soothing rays from a distance of millions of miles
- All of these (the nine activities in devotional service) are ways of seeing Him (God), for everything done in devotional service is a means of direct contact with the Lord
- All the demigods are called tri-pistapa, and the same word tri applies to Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Lord Visnu
- All the heavenly planets of the upper planetary system are thousands upon thousands of times more opulent than the lower planetary system in which we live
- All the inhabitants of the various planets, being unable to find any other shelter, were obliged to seek shelter at the lotus feet of the supreme friend - Krsna
- Although Prahlada Maharaja was only a boy, he had no interest in playing. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 11.2.42), viraktir anyatra ca: the symptom of perfect Krsna consciousness is that one loses interest in all material activities
- Although such instruments (telescopes) are needed because the vision of the so-called scientists is imperfect, the instruments themselves are also imperfect. The upper planets cannot be appraised by imperfect men using imperfect man-made instruments
- An exalted devotee, or mahatma, who is rarely to be seen, remains fully conscious of Krsna and constantly sees the Lord within the core of his heart
- An offense at the lotus feet of a Vaisnava is so disastrous that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has compared it to a mad elephant that enters a garden and causes great havoc by uprooting many plants and trees
- Anyone can become a fully qualified brahmana under the direction of a spiritual master. Prahlada Maharaja provided a vivid example of how to think of the spiritual master and accept his directions calmly
- Apparently Prahlada Maharaja was placed in circumstances in which he was always tortured by his father (Hiranyakasipu). In such material conditions, one cannot have an undisturbed mind
- As a father and mother care for their child, Govinda cared for Prahlada Maharaja, who remained always absorbed in thoughts of Govinda. This is Krsna consciousness. Prahlada Maharaja is the vivid example of perfection in Krsna consciousness
- As far as material sense gratification is concerned, materialists may go on increasing their enjoyment as far as they can imagine, but because people in such a material condition are servants of their senses, they cannot be satisfied
- As far as we are concerned, we follow the authority of Vyasadeva and Sukadeva Gosvami, who have described the universal situation according to the Vedic literature
- As soon as one transgresses the laws of sastra, he immediately enters upon the path of destruction
- As soon as the mother returns and cares for the child, the child laughs and becomes jubilant
- As stated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His Siksastaka, the words caksusa pravrsayitam refer to tears falling incessantly from the devotee's eyes. These symptoms, which appear in pure devotional ecstasy, were visible in the body of Prahlada Maharaja
- As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 3.25.25), satam prasangan mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah: only by association with devotees can one authoritatively understand the position of the Lord and His devotees
- As the moon never refuses to distribute its pleasing rays even to the home of a candala, a Vaisnava never refuses to act for everyone's welfare
D
F
- For a small boy to give up playing is impossible, but Prahlada Maharaja, being situated in first-class devotional service, was always absorbed in a trance of Krsna consciousness
- From authoritative scripture it is learned that Prahlada Maharaja still lives in Vaikunthaloka as well as within this material world on the planet Sutala
H
- Here the feelings of Prahlada Maharaja were in the mellow of vatsalya, filial love and affection. As a child cries when left by his mother, when Prahlada Maharaja felt that the Lord was away from him he began to cry (nadati)
- Hiranyakasipu by dint of his austere performance of mystic yoga, became so powerful that he alone took charge of everything, without assistance from the demigods
- Hiranyakasipu was a vivid example of this dissatisfied state of humanity
- Hiranyakasipu was certainly enjoying the fruitful results of his austerities, but the Lord says that as soon as he committed an offense at the lotus feet of Prahlada Maharaja he would be ruined
- Hiranyakasipu was so alert against being burnt to ashes by the anger of great sages like Bhrgu that by dint of austerity he surpassed their power and placed even them under his subordination
- Hiranyakasipu was so powerful in the heavenly planets that all the demigods except Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Lord Visnu were forced to engage in his service. Indeed, they were afraid of being severely punished if they disobeyed him
I
- If a dog is swimming in the water and one wants to cross the ocean by catching hold of the dog's tail, certainly he is foolish. Similarly, if in distress one seeks shelter of a demigod, he is foolish, for his efforts will be fruitless
- If from the very beginning we seek shelter of the supreme friend, there will be no cause of danger
- If one is an offender at the lotus feet of a brahmana or Vaisnava, his offenses uproot all his auspicious activities. One should very carefully guard against committing vaisnava-aparadha, or offenses at the lotus feet of a Vaisnava
- If one is not a devotee, even if he has some materially good qualities, they have no value. That is the verdict of the Vedas
- If one is spiritually advanced, being a staunch, liberal devotee of the Lord, all good qualities are manifest in his body
- 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
- If one takes shelter of a dhama, worship of the Lord becomes very easy, and resultant spiritual advancement quickly takes place. In fact, in India one may still go to Vrndavana and similar places to achieve the results of spiritual activities quickly
- In all circumstances, one should seek shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then there will be no danger under any circumstances
- In bhakti there are nine different activities: sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam/ arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam
- In his prayers to the ten incarnations, Jayadeva Gosvami says, kesava dhrta-narahari-rupa jaya jagad-isa hare. Prahlada Maharaja was a devotee of Lord Nrsimha, who is Kesava, Krsna Himself
- In the history of human society, an affectionate father is rarely found to chastise a noble and devoted son. Therefore Maharaja Yudhisthira wanted Narada Muni to dissipate his doubt
- In the Skanda Purana there is this description: upayanam daduh sarve vina devan hiranyakah. Hiranyakasipu was so powerful that everyone but the three principal demigods - namely Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Lord Visnu - engaged in his service
- In the upper planets, where there are not only beautiful buildings, but also many opulent gardens and parks, which are described as nandana-devodyana, gardens quite fit to be enjoyed by the demigods
- Instead of being disturbed by the torments of his father (Hiranyakasipu), Prahlada influenced these friends and cleansed their minds
- It appears that even in the higher planetary systems, to which people are promoted by pious activities, disturbances are created by asuras like Hiranyakasipu. No one in the three worlds can live in peace and prosperity without disturbance
- It is not possible to convince modern scientists of the Vedic information about the universe. Nonetheless, we are not very impressed by the words of scientists who say that all other planets are vacant and that only the earth is full of living entities
- It is said in the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam: this material world is conducted by fire, water and earth, which combine and take shape. It is mentioned that the three modes of nature (prthag gunan) act under the direction of different demigods
- It is sometimes said that when one is influenced by evil stars like Saturn, Rahu or Ketu, he cannot make advancement in any prospective activity
M
- Maharaja Vena was afraid of some of the great sages such as Bhrgu, whereas Hiranyakasipu ruled in such a way that everyone feared him but Lord Visnu, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva
- Material benedictions are not always exactly worthy of being called benedictions
- Materialists are very much advanced in enjoying money and women, yet dissatisfaction prevails within human society because human society cannot be happy and peaceful without Krsna consciousness
- Modern scientists attempt excursions to other planets, but they have no information of how many different types of oceans and seas there are within the universe
O
- Of all sinful activities, an offense to a pure devotee, or Vaisnava, is the most severe
- On this earth there are such places as Vrndavana and Ayodhya, which are called dhamas. In the dhama, there is no influence from Kali-yuga or any demon
- One cannot understand anything spiritual from a materialistic scholar puffed up with academic knowledge. As stated in BG 18.55, bhaktya mam abhijanati: one must try to understand Krsna by devotional service and from a devotee
- One must go further and further into spiritual understanding
- One must try to understand Krsna by devotional service and from a devotee. Therefore Yudhisthira Maharaja was quite right in wanting to learn further about Prahlada Maharaja from Sri Narada Muni
- One should act according to the direction of the sastra, but the material energy is so powerful that as soon as one becomes materially opulent, he begins to transgress the sastric laws
- One who is deficient in knowledge cannot be called arya. At the present, however, the word arya is used to refer to those who are godless. This is the unfortunate situation of Kali-yuga
- One who oppresses a pure devotee loses all the results of his austerities, penances and pious activities
- One's longevity, opulence, beauty, education and whatever else one may possess as a result of pious activities cannot protect one if one commits an offense at the lotus feet of a Vaisnava
- Ordinary living beings cannot be so qualified, but a devotee can be qualified like the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not in full but partially
P
- Paramatma does not hate anyone; indeed, He is in the heart of a brahmana, but he is also even in the heart of a pig
- Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness-these are the qualities by which the brahmanas work." (BG 18.42) These qualities are manifest in the body of a Vaisnava
- Performing kirtana and hearing the vibration of the sound Hare Krsna is actually seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly. One must realize this position, and then one will be able to understand the absolute nature of the Lord's activities
- Prahlada Maharaja achieved the spiritual ecstasies described herein (in SB 7.4.40) by his advancement in spiritual understanding
- Prahlada Maharaja is praised for having all good qualities because of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A pure devotee, who has no motives, has all good qualities, material and spiritual
- Prahlada Maharaja is the approved maha-bhagavata, the supreme devotee. In the previous verse it was stated that he had natural attachment (naisargiki ratih). The symptoms of such natural attachment for Krsna are described in this verse - SB 7.4.37
- Prahlada Maharaja is the vivid example of a great person fully absorbed in Krsna consciousness
- Prahlada Maharaja sometimes felt that the Lord was far away from him and therefore called Him loudly. When he saw that the Lord was before him, he was fully jubilant
- Prahlada Maharaja was exactly like a small child, being cared for by Govinda. The necessary activities of his body were performed without his knowledge
- Prahlada Maharaja was influenced by Krsna, the supreme planet, and thus he could not think of the material world and live without Krsna consciousness. That is the sign of a maha-bhagavata
- Prahlada Maharaja's heart was always filled with thoughts of Krsna. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja is the ideal devotee in Krsna consciousness
- Prahlada Maharaja, being always absorbed in thoughts of Krsna, sometimes felt separation, thinking, "Where is Krsna
- Pure devotees are fully satisfied by glorifying the Lord. Such glorification is called kirtana
S
- Since bhakti is unconditional (ahaituky apratihata), Prahlada Maharaja was never disturbed by the chastisements of Hiranyakasipu
- Since Brahma had promised, he wanted to grant all the benedictions asked (by Hiranyakasipu). The word durlabhan indicates that one should not take benedictions one cannot enjoy peacefully
- Since Hiranyakasipu was now inclined to chastise his most exalted devotee son, Prahlada Maharaja, his opulences began dwindling
- Since the demigods resort to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, why should the worshipers of the demigods not approach the Supreme Lord for whatever benefits they desire
- Sometimes people are very much eager to see God. In considering the word mad-darsanam, "seeing Me," which is mentioned in this verse (SB 7.4.25-26), one should note that in Bhagavad-gita the Lord says, bhaktya mam abhijanati
- Sometimes, however, it so happens in this material world that great personalities, even great devotees, can also be controlled by the asuras
- Sometimes, thinking himself one with the Supreme, he (Prahlada) imitated the Lord's pastimes, and in separation from the Lord he would sometimes show symptoms of madness. These feelings of a devotee would not be appreciated by impersonalists
- Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti has compared Hiranyakasipu to Maharaja Vena, who was also atheistic and scornful of the ritualistic ceremonies mentioned in the Vedas
T
- The ability to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead or to see Him or talk with Him depends on one's advancement in devotional service, which is called bhakti
- The asuras sometimes become so powerful that they can engage even Narada Muni and similar devotees in their service. This does not mean that Narada was subordinate to Hiranyakasipu
- The bodily symptoms of his (Prahlada's) ecstatic love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead turned the minds of his friends, who had also been born in atheistic families
- The devotee, in full ecstasy, sometimes imitates the pastimes of the Lord, just as the cowherd boys used to imitate the behavior of the jungle animals. However, he does not actually become the Lord
- The devotee, without being ashamed due to his surroundings and circumstances, begins to dance, thinking, "Here is my Lord! My Lord is coming
- The first realization is impersonal Brahman, but one must go still further to realize Paramatma and eventually the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is worshiped by the transcendental feelings of a devotee
- The less intelligent men who are always busy worshiping the demigods should note that when the demigods are harassed by the demons, they approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead for relief
- The Lord clearly says that although Hiranyakasipu had received benedictions from Lord Brahma, these benedictions would be null and void as soon as he committed an offense at the lotus feet of Prahlada Maharaja, his own son
- The rivers are figuratively described as wives of the oceans and seas because they glide down to the oceans and seas as tributaries, like the wives attached to their husbands
- The six Gosvamis are described in this way: dhiradhira jana-priyau. They were popular with both the gentle and the ruffians. A Vaisnava must be equal to everyone, regardless of one's position
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped by the transcendental feelings of a devotee in a relationship of santa, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya or madhurya
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is actually the best friend of everyone. In a condition of distress or misery, one wants to seek shelter of a well-wishing friend. The well-wishing friend of the perfect order is Lord Sri Krsna
- The two words tasyai kasthayai are very significant. Everywhere, in every direction, in every heart and in every atom, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated in His features as Brahman and Paramatma
- The upper planetary system and its opulences is to be understood from authoritative scriptures like the Vedic literatures. Telescopes and the other imperfect instruments of scientists are inadequate for evaluating the upper planetary system
- The vibration of God's voice appeared in the presence of all the devotees, and although the person vibrating the sound was unseen to them, they were meeting or seeing God because they were offering prayers and because the vibration of God was present
- The water of the seas and oceans of this planet, of which we have experience, are salty, but other planets within the universe contain oceans of sugarcane juice, liquor, ghee, milk and sweet water
- The word garuda in this verse (SB 7.4. 5-7) indicates that there are planets of great birds like Garuda
- The word guru refers to the spiritual master who initiates his disciple into advancement in the science of Krsna, or Krsna consciousness, as stated by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura - sri-bhagavan-mantropadesake gurav ity arthah
- The word sastra refers to that which controls our activities. We cannot violate or transgress the laws and regulative principles mentioned in the sastras. Bhagavad-gita repeatedly confirms this
- The word uraga indicates that there are planets of enormous serpents. Such a description of the various planets of the universe may challenge modern scientists who think that all planets but this earth are vacant
- There are three kinds of demigods - the Adityas, the Vasus and the Rudras - beneath whom are the other demigods, like the Maruts and Sadhyas
- There have been many instances in which demons, after achieving material opulences, have become extremely proud, so much so that they have transgressed the laws and regulations given in the authoritative sastras. Hiranyakasipu acted in this way
- There is no need to approach any demigod separately for the fulfillment of any desire
- These (in SB 7.4.31-32) are some of the qualifications of a Vaisnava. A Vaisnava is automatically a brahmana because a Vaisnava has all the good qualities of a brahmana
- These authorities (Vyasadeva and Sukadeva Gosvami), differ from modern scientists who conclude from their imperfect sensual experience that only this planet is inhabited by living beings whereas the other planets are all vacant or full of dust
- These scientists claim to have launched excursions to the moon, where they have found no living entities but only big craters full of dust and stone, although in fact the moon is so brilliant that it acts like the sun in illuminating the entire universe
- These symptoms are called bhava. In The Nectar of Devotion, various bhavas, ecstatic conditions of a devotee, are fully described. These bhavas are visible in the activities of a perfect devotee
- This is an example of asuric life. Atheists can advance materially and create an extremely comfortable situation for the senses, but because they are controlled by the senses, they cannot be satisfied. This is the effect of modern civilization
- This transcendental quality of existing simultaneously in different places is another qualification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- This verse (SB 7.4.39) clarifies the comparison of a devotee to a child. If a mother leaves her small child in his bed or cradle and goes away to attend to some family duties, the child immediately understands that his mother has gone away, and he cries
- To know about the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the characteristics of His pure devotee, one must inquire from authorities like Devarsi Narada. One cannot inquire about transcendental subject matters from a layman
V
W
- What is the purpose of saying: "in that direction where Hari is situated?" During Hiranyakasipu's time, his influence was everywhere, but he could not force his influence into the places where the Supreme Personality of Godhead had His pastimes
- When a demon like Hiranyakasipu, despite his elevated position due to severe austerities, begins to tease a devotee, he begins falling down, and the results of his austerities dwindle
- When a devotee feels separation from the Lord, he becomes eager to see where the Lord is, and sometimes when he feels pangs of separation, tears flow incessantly from his half-closed eyes
- When an exalted devotee feels that Krsna is invisible, he cries in separation, and sometimes, when he sees that Krsna has returned to care for him, he laughs, just as a child sometimes laughs upon understanding that his mother is taking care of him
- When this verse (SB 7.4.36) says vasudeve bhagavati, one should understand that Prahlada Maharaja's attachment for Nrsimhadeva was attachment for Krsna, Vasudeva, the son of Vasudeva. Prahlada Maharaja is described as a great mahatma
- Whether one is a karmi, jnani or yogi, if one wants a particular benediction fulfilled, even if it be material, one should approach the Supreme Lord and pray to Him, for then it will be fulfilled