Shloka 4
Nṛsiṁhadeva Appears from the Pillar and Slays Hiraṇyakaśipu
कोपावेशचलद्गात्र: पुत्रं हन्तुं मनो दधे । क्षिप्त्वा परुषया वाचा प्रह्रादमतदर्हणम् । आहेक्षमाण: पापेन तिरश्चीनेन चक्षुषा ॥ ३ ॥ प्रश्रयावनतं दान्तं बद्धाञ्जलिमवस्थितम् । सर्प: पदाहत इव श्वसन्प्रकृतिदारुण: ॥ ४ ॥
kopāveśa-calad-gātraḥ putraṁ hantuṁ mano dadhe kṣiptvā paruṣayā vācā prahrādam atad-arhaṇam
Lorsque Hiraṇyakaśipu comprit toute la situation, il fut pris d'une colère extrême, au point que son corps tremblait. Il décida alors finalement de tuer son fils Prahlāda. Hiraṇyakaśipu était de nature très cruelle et, se sentant insulté, il commença à siffler comme un serpent piétiné par le pied de quelqu'un. Son fils Prahlāda était paisible, doux et gentil, ses sens étaient sous contrôle, et il se tenait devant Hiraṇyakaśipu les mains jointes. Selon l'âge et le comportement de Prahlāda, il ne méritait pas d'être châtié. Pourtant, avec des yeux fixes et courroucés, Hiraṇyakaśipu le réprimanda avec des paroles dures.
When one is impudent toward a highly authorized devotee, one is punished by the laws of nature. The duration of his life is diminished, and he loses the blessings of superior persons and the results of pious activities. Hiraṇyakaśipu, for example, had achieved such great power in the material world that he could subdue practically all the planetary systems in the universe, including the heavenly planets (Svargaloka). Yet now, because of his mistreatment of such a Vaiṣṇava as Prahlāda Mahārāja, all the results of his tapasya diminished. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.4.46) :
FAQs
Because Prahlāda’s unwavering devotion to Viṣṇu threatened Hiraṇyakaśipu’s ego and atheistic rule, provoking intense envy and rage.
It shows how envy and anger distort judgment—so much that a father can become cruel toward an innocent, saintly child, glaring like a serpent.
Like Prahlāda, remain steady and humble, not retaliating, and keep faith in the Lord’s protection despite hostile words or intimidation.