Prahlada's beautiful answer to his father
Encouraged by my pal Pradeep's comment, here I go attempting a couple of more translations of Pothana's poems. These poems were being sung to us at our home, my father especially I remember taught us to recite these padyams. Very fortunate of being born in my family, I am, in deed!!
From the story of Prahlada in the Bhagavatam, this is yet another beautiful piece of work from Pothana.
Context: Hiranyakashipa is a powerful Demon King who is a staunch enemy of Vishnu. His son Prahlada is the quite opposite of him and since his childhood is a great devotee of Vishnu. In this scene, Hiranyakashipa overcome with rage asks Prahlada “Where can I find Hari (Vishnu)?”. This poem is the answer of Prahlada to his father’s inquiry.
My Translation:
He (Vishnu) is inside the deep abyss, He is in the omnipresent atmosphere, over the sky, in the core of the Earth. He is also present in the fire, He is in days and nights. He is in the embodiments of the life-giving Sun, the pleasing Moon. He is in the sacred word AUM (the origin of sound), in the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. He is in women, men, eunuchs and in every person. He is everywhere, dear father! You do not need to put your efforts in determining whether He is here or there!! "
“Listen O the prime among the Demons (Rakshasas/Danavas)!! Do not doubt whether The One who has the Sudharshana Chakra as his weapon, Sree Hari (Vishnu) is here and not there and so on. He is present in every place. He is the One whose grace all can seek. It is the inability of those who do not search for Him, that He is not found. Wherever you search Him, He will be there!”
I referred to the E-Book "Potana Kavita Sudha: Commentary by Dr. P. Yashodha Reddy " the first paperback copy of which was printed by Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academy in 1983 for the grammatical correctness of the padyams.
From the story of Prahlada in the Bhagavatam, this is yet another beautiful piece of work from Pothana.Context: Hiranyakashipa is a powerful Demon King who is a staunch enemy of Vishnu. His son Prahlada is the quite opposite of him and since his childhood is a great devotee of Vishnu. In this scene, Hiranyakashipa overcome with rage asks Prahlada “Where can I find Hari (Vishnu)?”. This poem is the answer of Prahlada to his father’s inquiry.
My Translation:
He (Vishnu) is inside the deep abyss, He is in the omnipresent atmosphere, over the sky, in the core of the Earth. He is also present in the fire, He is in days and nights. He is in the embodiments of the life-giving Sun, the pleasing Moon. He is in the sacred word AUM (the origin of sound), in the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. He is in women, men, eunuchs and in every person. He is everywhere, dear father! You do not need to put your efforts in determining whether He is here or there!! "
Further to this:
“Listen O the prime among the Demons (Rakshasas/Danavas)!! Do not doubt whether The One who has the Sudharshana Chakra as his weapon, Sree Hari (Vishnu) is here and not there and so on. He is present in every place. He is the One whose grace all can seek. It is the inability of those who do not search for Him, that He is not found. Wherever you search Him, He will be there!”
I referred to the E-Book "Potana Kavita Sudha: Commentary by Dr. P. Yashodha Reddy " the first paperback copy of which was printed by Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academy in 1983 for the grammatical correctness of the padyams.
Click on the title of the post to watch a video from Bhaktha Prahlada with Sri S.V.Ranga Rao as the Hiranyakasapa. I believe Smt. P. Susheela has rendered the padyams for young Prahalada, played by Rojaramani.
-Siddartha Pamulaparty
Nov 4, 2007.
Comments
Dr.Kiran KVSN