Text 18] Prahlada, the Saintly Son of Hiranyakasipu 241

prahradam grahaydm asa
tri-vargasyopapaddanam

iti—in this way; tam—him (Prahlada Maharaja); vividha-upayaih—
by various means; bhisayan—threatening; tarjana-adibhih—by
chastisement, threats, etc.; prahraddam—unto Prahlada Maharaja;
grahayam dsa—taught; tri-vargasya—the three goals of life (the paths
of religion, economic development and _ sense gratification);
upapddanam—scripture that presents.

TRANSLATION
Sanda and Amarka, the teachers of Prahlada Maharaja, chastised

and threatened their disciple in various ways and began teaching
him about the paths of religion, economic development and sense
gratification. This is the way they educated him.

PURPORT

In this verse the words prahradam grahayam asa are important. The
words grahayam asa literally mean that they tried to induce Prahlada
Maharaja to accept the paths of dharma, artha and kama (religion,
economic development and sense gratification). People are generally
preoccupied with these three concerns, without interest in the path of
liberation. Hiranyakasipu, the father of Prahlada Maharaja, was simply
interested in gold and sense enjoyment. The word hiranya means
“gold,” and kasipu refers to soft cushions and bedding on which people
enjoy sense gratification. The word prahlada, however, refers to one
who is always joyful in understanding Brahman (brahma-bhitah
prasannétmé). Prahldéda means prasannatma, always joyful. Prahlada
was always joyful in worshiping the Lord, but in accordance with the in-
structions of Hiranyakasipu, the teachers were interested in teaching
him about material things. Materialistic persons think that the path of
religion is meant for improving their material conditions. The materialist
goes to a temple to worship many varieties of demigods just to receive
some benediction to improve his material life. He goes to a sddhu or so-
called svdmi to take advantage of an easy method for achieving material
opulence. In the name of religion, the so-called sddhus try to satisfy the
