ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದಚರಿತಮ್ (ನಾರಾಯಣೀಯಮ್)

   Click here to see a brief introduction to the Author of Narayaneeyam from which this piece is reproduced                               

                 ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದಚರಿತಮ್

                  ದಶಕಮ್ ೨೪ 

ಹಿರಣ್ಯಾಕ್ಷೇ ಪೋತ್ರಿಪ್ರವರವಪುಷಾ ದೇವ ! ಭವತಾ

ಹತೇ ಶೋಕಕ್ರೋಧಗ್ಲಪಿತಧೃತಿರೇತಸ್ಯ ಸಹಜಃ|

ಹಿರಣ್ಯಪ್ರಾರಂಭಃ ಕಶಿಪುರಮರಾರಾತಿಸದಸಿ

ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞಾಮಾತೇನೇ ತವ ಕಿಲ ವಧಾರ್ಥಂ ಮುರರಿಪೋ ||೧||

O Lord ! Slayer of Mura!  when Hiranyaksha was killed by you in your incarnation as the great boar, his brother Hiranyakashipu, overcome by grief and anger,  vowed in the assembly of asuras  that he would kill you.

ವಿಧಾತಾರಂ ಘೋರಂ ಸ ಖಲು ತಪಸಿತ್ವಾ ನ ಚಿರತಃ

ಪುರಃ ಸಾಕ್ಷಾತ್ಕುರ್ವನ್ಸುರನರಮೃಗಾದ್ಯೈರನಿಧನಮ್  |

ವರಂ ಲಬ್ಧ್ವಾ ದೃಪ್ತೋ ಜಗದಿಹ ಭವನ್ನಾಯಕಮಿದಂ

ಪರಿಕ್ಷುನ್ದನ್ನಿನ್ದ್ರಾದಹರತ ದಿವಂ  ತ್ವಾಮಗಣಯನ್ ||೨||

By his severe austerities (tapas), before long,  he made Brahma appear before him and,  having obtained from him the boon of not meeting his death at the hands of devas, humans or animals,

became arrogant and, disregarding you, destroyed the worlds ruled over by you and snatched the kingdom of heaven from Indra.   

 

ನಿಹನ್ತುಂ ತ್ವಾಂ ಭೂಯಸ್ತವ ಪದಮವಾಪ್ತಸ್ಯ ಚ ರಿಪೋ-

ರ್ಬಹಿರ್ದೃಷ್ಟೇರನ್ತರ್ದಧಿತ ಹೃದಯೇ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮವಪುಷಾ  |

ನದನ್ನುಚ್ಚೈಸ್ತತ್ರಾಪ್ಯಖಿಲಭುವನಾನ್ತೇ ಚ ಮೃಗಯನ್

ಭಿಯಾ ಯಾತಂ ಮತ್ವಾ ಸ ಖಲು ಜಿತಕಾಶೀ ನಿವವೃತೇ ||೩||

When he came to your abode to kill you, you disappeared from his outward-looking eyes and lodged yourself in his heart in microscopic form. The asura  searched You in your abode and all over the worlds and, not finding you,  thought You had run away in fear and returned home priding himself on his (supposed) victory over you.

ತತೋಽಸ್ಯ ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದಃ ಸಮಜನಿ ಸುತೋ ಗರ್ಭವಸತೌ

ಮುನೇರ್ವೀಣಾಪಾಣೇರಧಿಗತಭವದ್ಭಕ್ತಿಮಹಿಮಾ |

ಸ ವೈ ಜಾತ್ಯಾ ದೈತ್ಯಃ ಶಿಶುರಪಿ ಸಮೇತ್ಯ ತ್ವಯಿ ರತಿಮ್

ಗತಸ್ತ್ವದ್ಭಕ್ತಾನಾಂ ವರದ! ಪರಮೋದಾಹಾರಣತಾಂ ||೪||

O Giver of boons ! After a few years, Hiranyakashipu begot a son Prahlada who, while still in the womb of his mother, had understood from Narada Muni, who always carries a Veena in his hands, the greatness of devotion to you.  Though born in the asura clan, child Prahlada, who had developed deep love for you,  set a great example to your devotees.

ಸುರಾರೀಣಾಂ ಹಾಸ್ಯಂ ತವ ಚರಣದಾಸ್ಯಂ ನಿಜಸುತೇ

ಸ ದೃಷ್ಟ್ವಾ ದುಷ್ಟಾತ್ಮಾ ಗುರುಭಿರಶಿಶಿಕ್ಷಚ್ಚಿರಮಮುಮ್ |

ಗುರುಪ್ರೋಕ್ತಂ ಚಾಸಾವಿದಮಿದಮಭದ್ರಾಯ ದೃಢಮಿ-

ತ್ಯಪಾಕುರ್ವನ್ ಸರ್ವಂ ತವ ಚರಣಭಕ್ತ್ಯೈವ ವವೃಧೇ ||೫||

Seeing in his son devotion to Your lotus-feet and knowing that such devotion is mocked by the asuras, the wicked Hiranyakashipu tried to discipline him through his teachers.  But Prahlada firmly rejected whatever was taught by his teachers (relating to dharma, artha or Kama) saying these were not good or auspicious and grew up with loving devotion to you in his heart.   

ಅಧೀತೇಷು ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠಂ ಕಿಮಿತಿ ಪರಿಪೃಷ್ಟೇಽಥ ತನಯೇ

ಭವದ್ಭಕ್ತಿಂ ವರ್ಯಾಮಭಿಗದತಿ ಪರ್ಯಾಕುಲಧೃತಿಃ |

ಗುರುಭ್ಯೋ ರೋಷಿತ್ವಾ ಸಹಜಮತಿರಸ್ಯೇತ್ಯಭಿವಿದನ್

ವಧೋಪಾಯಾನಸ್ಮಿನ್ ವ್ಯತನುತ ಭವತ್ಪಾದಶರಣೇ ||೬||

Asked by his father what was the best thing he had learned Prahlada replied that Bhakti, loving devotion to You,  was the best thing he had learned.  Hearing this Hiranyakashipu was completely upset and he got angry with the teachers. Then he understand that it (Bhakti) was the natural instinct of Prahlada (and not the fault of his teachers). He then resorted to methods of killing Prahlada who had taken refuge at your feet.   

ಸ ಶೂಲೈರಾವಿದ್ಧಃ ಸುಬಹುಮಥಿತೋ ದಿಗ್ಗಜಗಣೈ-

ರ್ಮಹಾಸರ್ಪೈರ್ದ್ದಷ್ಟೋಽಪ್ಯನಶನಗರಾಹಾರವಿದುತಃ |

ಗಿರೀನ್ದ್ರಾವಕ್ಷಿಪ್ತೋಽಪ್ಯಹಹ! ಪರಮಾತ್ಮನ್ನಯಿ! ವಿಭೋ!

ತ್ವಯಿ ನ್ಯಸ್ತಾತ್ಮತ್ವಾತ್ ಕಿಮಪಿ ನ ಪೀಡಾಮಭಜತ||೭||

O Lord ! O Paramatman ! Prahlada,  whose mind always rested in you in complete surrender, did not experience any pain though pierced by tridents several times, trampled over by the elephants from the eight quarters, bitten by deadly poisonous serpents, made to starve, fed poisoned food and thrown from the top of mountains   

ತತಃ ಶಙ್ಕಾವಿಷ್ಟಃ ಸ ಪುನರತಿದುಷ್ಟೋಽಸ್ಯ ಜನಕೋ

ಗುರೂಕ್ತ್ಯಾ ತದ್ಗೇಹೇ ಕಿಲ ವರುಣಪಾಶೈಸ್ತಮರುಣತ್ |

ಗುರೋಶ್ಚಾಸಾನ್ನಿದ್ಧ್ಯೇ ಸ ಪುನರನುಗಾನ್ ದೈತ್ಯತನಯಾನ್

ಭವದ್ಭಕ್ತೇಸ್ತತ್ತ್ವಂ ಪರಮಮಪಿ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನಮಶಿಷತ್ ||೮||

Hiranyakashipu was frustrated (at the failure of his attempts to kill

his son Prahlada) and, at the instance of the teachers,  Prahlada was incarcerated in the house of the guru, bound by varuna pasha.  In the absence of the guru  Prahlada taught the asura children the greatness of bhakti  and imparted to them the highest knowledge about the atman.

ಪಿತಾ ಶೃಣ್ವನ್ ಬಾಲಪ್ರಕರಮಖಿಲಂ ತ್ವತ್ಸ್ತುತಿಪರಂ

ರುಷಾಂಧಃ ಪ್ರಾಹೈನಂ ಕುಲಹತಕ ’ಕಸ್ತೇ ಬಲಮಿತಿ’ |

ಬಲಂ ಮೇ ವೈಕುಣ್ಠಸ್ತವ ಚ ಜಗತಾಂ ಚಾಪಿ ಸ ಬಲಮ್

ಸ ಏವ ತ್ರೈಲೋಕ್ಯಂ  ಸಕಲ’ಮಿತಿ ಧೀರೋಽಯಮಗದೀತ್ ||೯||

O Lord! Hearing that all the asura boys had taken to praising you, Hiranyakashipu was blind with anger.  He asked Prahlada

“ You the disgrace of the asura clan ! who is the power behind you?” The courageous Prahlada said “ The power behind me is Lord Vishnu, he is the power behind you and all those in this world.  He is all the three worlds”. 

’ಅರೇ ಕ್ವಾಸೌ ಕ್ವಾಸೌ ಸಕಲಜಗದಾತ್ಮಾ ಹರಿ’ರಿತಿ

ಪ್ರಭಿನ್ತೇ ಸ್ಮ ಸ್ತಂಭಂ ಚಲಿತ ಕರವಾಲೋ ದಿತಿಸುತಃ |

ಅತಃ ಪಶ್ಚಾದ್ವಿಷ್ಣೋ ನ ವದಿತುಮೀಶೋಽಸ್ಮಿ ಸಹಸಾ

ಕೃಪಾತ್ಮನ್! ವಿಶ್ವಾತ್ಮನ್! ಪವನಪುರವಾಸಿನ್ ಮೃಡಯ ಮಾಮ್ ||೧೦||

“Where is this Hari who is the soul of all these worlds?” saying thus Hiranyakashipu broke open one of the pillars in the hall  with a blow of his sword.  O Lord Vishnu ! What happened afterwards  I am unable to narrate immediately.  O Embodiment of compassion! Indwelling spirit of all the worlds! Lord of Guruvayoor! protect me (your devotee)  

             

                 ನರಸಿಂಹಾವತಾರಮ್ 

                   ದಶಕಮ್ ೨೫

ಸ್ಥಂಭೇ ಘಟ್ಟಯತೋ ಹಿರಣ್ಯಕಶಿಪೋಃ ಕರ್ಣೌ ಸಮಾಚೂರ್ಣಯ-

ನ್ನಾಘೂರ್ಣಜ್ಜಗದಣ್ಡಕುಣ್ಡಕುಹರೋ ಘೋರಸ್ತವಾಭೂದ್ರವಃ  |

ಶ್ರುತ್ವಾ ಯಂ ಕಿಲ ದೈತ್ಯರಾಜಹೃದಯೇ ಪೂರ್ವಂ ಕದಾಪ್ಯಶ್ರುತಮ್

ಕಂಪಃ ಕಶ್ಚನ ಸಂಪಪಾತ ಚಲಿತೋಪ್ಯಂಭೋಜಭೂರ್ವಿಷ್ಟರಾತ್ ||೧||

As soon as Hiranyakashipu struck the pillar you let out a terrible roar which pulverized his ears and reverberated through the whole of the cosmos shaking it thoroughly.  Hearing the sound, never heard before, there was a trembling in the heart of the asura king and even Brahma was displaced from his seat.  

ದೈತ್ಯೇ ದಿಕ್ಷುವಿಸೃಷ್ಟಚಕ್ಷುಷಿ ಮಹಾಸಂರಂಭಿಣಿ ಸ್ತಂಭತಃ

ಸಂಭೂತಂ ನ ಮೃಗಾತ್ಮಕಂ ನ ಮನುಜಾಕಾರಂ ವಪುಸ್ತೇ ವಿಭೋ!

ಕಿಂ ಕಿಂ ಭೀಷಣಮೇತದದ್ಭುತಮಿತಿ ವ್ಯುದ್ಭ್ರಾನ್ತಚಿತ್ತೇಽಸುರೇ

ವಿಸ್ಫೂರ್ಜದ್ಧವಲೋಗ್ರರೋಮವಿಕಸದ್ವರ್ಷ್ಮಾ ಸಮಾಜೃಂಭಥಾಃ  ||೨||

While the asura, beside himself with anger, was looking around him in all directions, you suddenly emerged from the pillar with a terrible body, neither of beast nor of man,  seeing which the asura,  with utter commotion in his mind,  speculated what this wondrous and terrifying form was.  At this moment Your body,  covered with white, sharp and pointed hairs standing on end, started growing in size.  

ತಪ್ತಸ್ವರ್ಣಸವರ್ಣಘೂರ್ಣದತಿರೂಕ್ಷಾಕ್ಷಂ ಸಟಾಕೇಸರ-

ಪ್ರೋತ್ಕಂಪಪ್ರನಿಕುಂಬಿತಾಂಬರಮಹೋ ಜೀಯಾತ್ತವೇದಂ ವಪುಃ |

ವ್ಯಾತ್ತವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಮಹಾದರೀಸಖಮುಖಂ ಖಡ್ಗೋಗ್ರವಲ್ಗನ್ಮಹಾ-

ಜಿಹ್ವಾನಿರ್ಗಮದೃಶ್ಯಮಾನಸುಮಹಾದಂಷ್ಟ್ರಾಯುಗೋಡ್ಡಾಮರಮ್ ||೩||

O Lord ! victory to this wonderful body of yours with rolling and fearful eyes of the colour of molten gold, your mane covering the whole of the sky, your open mouth resembling a big cave and the two frightening very large canine teeth which become visible when you thrust out your big tongue  resembling the blade of a sharp sword.   

ಉತ್ಸರ್ಪದ್ವಲಿಭಂಗಭೀಷಣಹನು ಹ್ರಸ್ವಸ್ಥವೀಯಸ್ತರ-

ಗ್ರೀವಂ ಪೀವರದೋಶ್ಶತೋದ್ಗತನಖಕ್ರೂರಾಂಶುದೂರೋಲ್ಬಣಮ್ |

ವ್ಯೋಮೋಲ್ಲಂಘಿ ಘನಾಘನೋಪಮಘನಪ್ರಧ್ವಾನನಿರ್ಧಾವಿತ-

ಸ್ಪರ್ದ್ಧಾಲುಪ್ರಕರಂ ನಮಾಮಿ ಭವತಸ್ತನ್ನಾರಸಿಂಹಂ ವಪುಃ||೪||

I prostrate before the form of Narasimha you assumed, with frightening lower chin with its folds which stand erect, short and extremely stout neck,  fearful with powerful scorching rays emanating from the nails of your many stout hands, touching the sky and making the hordes of enemies run away in fear by your roar competing with the thunder of clouds ready for downpour. 

ನೂನಂ ವಿಷ್ಣುರಯಂ ನಿಹನ್ಮ್ಯಮುಮಿತಿ ಭ್ರಾಮ್ಯದ್ಗದಾಭೀಷಣಂ

ದೈತ್ಯೇನ್ದ್ರಂ ಸಮುಪಾದ್ರವನ್ತಮಧೃಥಾ ದೋರ್ಭ್ಯಾಂ ಪೃಥುಭ್ಯಾಮಮುಮ್ |

ವೀರೋ ನಿರ್ಗಲಿತೋಽಥ ಖಡ್ಗಫಲಕೌ ಗೃಹ್ಣನ್ ವಿಚಿತ್ರಶ್ರಮಾನ್

ವ್ಯಾವೃಣ್ವನ್ ಪುನರಾಪಪಾತ ಭುವನಗ್ರಸೋದ್ಯತಂ ತ್ವಾಮಹೋ ! ||೫||

The king of asuras, certain in his mind that this must be Vishnu who must be killed, approached you with great speed swinging his mace. You caught of hold him with your two stout hands but he wriggled out of your grip and, taking up a sword and armour,  and displaying different skills in fighting, approached You who stood there as if you would devour all of this world

ಭ್ರಾಮ್ಯನ್ತಂ ದಿತಿಜಾಧಮಂ ಪುನರಪಿ ಪ್ರೋದ್ಗೃಹ್ಯ ದೋರ್ಭ್ಯಾಂ ಜವಾತ್

ದ್ವಾರೇಽಥೋರುಯುಗೇ ನಿಪಾತ್ಯ ನಖರಾನ್ ವ್ಯುತ್ಖಾಯ ವಕ್ಷೋಭುವಿ |

ನಿರ್ಭಿನ್ದನ್ನಧಿಗರ್ಭನಿರ್ಭರಗಲದ್ರಕ್ತಾಂಬುಬದ್ಧೋತ್ಸವಂ

ಪಾಯಂ ಪಾಯಮುದೀರಯೋ ಬಹುಜಗತ್ಸಂಹಾರಿಸಿಂಹಾರವಾನ್ ||೬||

You again caught hold of the meanest of Asuras, who was circling around you, with both of your hands. You then knocked him down at the door and, laying him on your thighs, dug your nails into his chest and, ripping it open, drank the  copious blood gushing out in a festive mood and let out great many roars of a lion,sending the worlds into a turmoil.     

ತ್ಯಕ್ತ್ವಾ ತಂ ಹತಮಾಶು ರಕ್ತಲಹರೀಸಿಕ್ತೋನ್ನಮದ್ವರ್ಷ್ಮಣಿ

ಪ್ರತ್ಯುತ್ಪತ್ಯ ಸಮಸ್ತದೈತ್ಯಪಟಲೀಂ ಚಾಖಾದ್ಯಮಾನೇ ತ್ವಯಿ |

ಭ್ರಾಮ್ಯದ್ಭೂಮಿ ವಿಕಂಪಿತಾಂಬುಧಿಕುಲಂ  ವ್ಯಾಲೋಲಶೈಲೋತ್ಕರಂ

ಪ್ರೋತ್ಸರ್ಪತ್ಖಚರಂ ಚರಾಚರಮಹೋ ದುಃಸ್ಥಾಮವಥಾಂ ದಧೌ || ೭||

O Lord ! When you left Hiranyhakashipu dead and,  with your body smeared with blood and stretched to its full height, you sprang up and started eating the horde of asuras, both the moving and non-moving life became highly unstable with the earth spinning furiously, the seas becoming tumultuous, mountains quaking and the celestial bodies (stars and planets) moving erratically.     

ತಾವನ್ಮಾಂಸವಸಾಕರಾಲವಪುಷಂ ಘೋರಾನ್ತ್ರಮಾಲಾಧರಂ

ತ್ವಾಂ ಮಧ್ಯೇಸಭಮಿದ್ಧರೋಷಮುಷಿತಂ ದುರ್ವಾರಗುರ್ವಾರವಮ್ |

ಅಭ್ಯೇತುಂ ನ ಶಶಾಕ ಕೋಽಪಿ ಭುವನೇ ದೂರೇ ಸ್ಥಿತಾ ಭೀರವಃ

ಸರ್ವೇ ಶರ್ವವಿರಿಞ್ಚವಾಸವಮುಖಾಃ ಪ್ರತ್ಯೇಕಮಸ್ತೋಷತ ||೮||

By then,  with your body frightening with the flesh and blood of (those killed), wearing a fearful garland of intestines and seated in the centre of the hall with burning anger and deafening lion’s roar, no one dared to come anywhere near you and timidly stayed away.  Devas led by Siva, Brahma and Indra sang your praises separately.

ಭೂಯೋಪ್ಯಕ್ಷತರೋಷಧಾಮ್ನಿ ಭವತಿ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾಜ್ಞಯಾ ಬಾಲಕೇ

ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದೇ ಪದಯೋರ್ನಮತ್ಯಪಭಯೇ ಕಾರುಣ್ಯಭಾರಾಕುಲಃ |

ಶಾನ್ತಸ್ತ್ವಂ ಕರಮಸ್ಯ ಮೂರ್ಧ್ನಿ ಸಮಧಾಃ ಸ್ತೋತ್ರೈರಥೋದ್ಗಾಯತ-

ಸ್ತಸ್ಯಾಕಾಮಧಿಯೋಽಪಿ ತೇನಿಥ ವರಂ ಲೋಕಾಯ ಚಾನುಗ್ರಹಮ್ ||೯||

Even then, there was no abatement in your anger. At the instance of Brahma, Prahlada bowed at your feet without fear and you, pressed down by the weight of compassion for your devotee, regained your calmness, put your hand on the head of Prahlada who was profusely singing hymns in your praise and granted him boons though Prahlada himself did not have any desires.  You also blessed all the worlds by killing the asura hordes

ಏವಂ ನಾಟಿತರೌದ್ರಚೇಷ್ಟಿತ ! ವಿಭೋ ! ಶ್ರೀತಾಪನೀಯಾಭಿಧ-

ಶ್ರುತ್ಯಂತಸ್ಫುಟಗೀತಸರ್ವಮಹಿಮನ್ನತ್ಯಂತಶುದ್ಧಾಕೃತೇ!

ತತ್ತಾದೃಙ್ನಿಖಿಲೋತ್ತರಂ ಪುನರಹೋ! ಕಸ್ತ್ವಾಂ ಪರೋ ಲಂಘಯೇತ್ ?

ಪ್ರಹ್ಲಾದಪ್ರಿಯ! ಹೇ ಮರುತ್ಪುರಪತೇ ಸರ್ವಾಮಯಾತ್ ಪಾಹಿ ಮಾಮ್ ||೧೦||

O Lord ! You of the purest form, whose greatness is extolled in shri Nrisimhatapani Upanishad, did enact this drama of terrible anger (It is not your real nature).  Who can violate or transgress you who are above everything else? O Lord of Guruvayur for whom Prahlada is very dear! save me from all my afflictions.