Jul 8, 2007

Chapter 15: Child Prahallada

HK gives Narada a wish. For his help, he can have whatever he asks. Narada thinks over. For a sanyasi like him, he does not know what to ask. But he tells HK of the happiness that daughter Kayadu and her son has brought to his house. So he asks HK for the two’s extended stay in his house for some more time.

HK is ‘vachan-badh’ (promise-bound). Though he hates to be separated from his son, he lets Narada have his way for the help he had done him. Even Kayadu informs her wish to stay, as it was calm and peaceful and perfect for the upbringing of her child. So HK agrees.

But he asks Narada of one thing. Never to utter ‘Vishnu’. So Narada says, ‘For having the happiness of Kayadu and Prahallada, I can agree to anything. So, I promise, I will say everything except Vishnu.’ HK is satisfied, but easily duped.

Lakshmi is angered that Narada agreed. But Vishnu convinces her that by just not saying ‘Vishnu’ doesn’t necessarily mean that his name or the characteristics that one desires is not imparted. Also, Narada is brilliant in ‘Talking!’ So Lakshmi is impressed.

Prahallada has now become a boy. Narada has to tell him a story so that he can drink milk…

Narada starts - There exists a Creator called Vasudeva He has other names too, like Narayan, Trilokinath, Jagdishwar, Madhav, Kamalnayan, Lakshmipathi, etc. One day he decided to create the universe. From the navel and forehead came Brahma and Shiva respectively. Brahma is called the ‘Mukhya Adhipathi’ (chief). He was assigned the job of bearing families. Under him, there were many chieftains.

One such chieftain was Kashyap. Narada tells Prahallada that he, Prahallada, comes from Kashyap’s roots.

Likewise, there was one more chieftain called Daksh. He had a beautiful and wonderful daughter called Sati. Soon, a bond of love occurred between Sati (also called Parvathi) and Shiva. Daksh resented this. So Sati ‘pent’ herself up and ignited a fire within herself. So Prahallada asks how that could be done. Narada told that that could be achieved by doing tapas. Thus, Prahallada learns tapas.

Once his mom calls out his name, but he does not respond. So she comes out and nudges him only to see that his whole body has the temperature of fire. So, concerned, Kayadu asks Narada ‘Whats going on.’ He says, it’s the Tapas – supreme concentration of mind over body and that he taught him that.

Prahallada complains to Narada that even though Narada had taught him the Creator’s 999 names, he hadnt told 1 name. Narada, promise-bound, doesn’t say anything. So Prahallada guesses and says he has deduced the word himself and that is ‘Vishnu.’ Narada is impressed and is sure Prahallada will come up in life. But he states to Prahallada that he (Narada) never uttered that name!

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