Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.5.43-44
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionCruelty Cannot Harm Sinless Prahlāda
“Hiraṇyakaśipu could not kill his son by throwing him beneath the feet of big elephants, throwing him among huge, fearful snakes, employing destructive spells, hurling him from the top of a hill, conjuring up illusory tricks, administering poison, starving him, exposing him to severe cold, winds, fire and water, or throwing heavy stones to crush him. When Hiraṇyakaśipu found that he could not in any way harm Prahlāda, who was completely sinless, he was in great anxiety about what to do next.”
What the purport teaches
- Hiraṇyakaśipu tried to kill his son through elephants, fearful snakes, destructive spells, and a fall from a hill.
- Poison, starvation, severe cold, winds, fire, water, and heavy stones also failed to harm Prahlāda.
- Prahlāda was completely sinless. Unable to harm him in any way, Hiraṇyakaśipu became deeply anxious about what to do next.
Try this today
Reflect for one minute on the contrast between Prahlāda’s sinlessness and Hiraṇyakaśipu’s harmful actions.
Ask yourself
What does Hiraṇyakaśipu’s growing anxiety show me about persisting in cruelty?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.