普拉赫拉达的故事
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中文
普拉荷拉达的故事
（在加利福尼亚州宣讲）
金衣霸（Hiranyakashipu）是达提耶（Daityas）族的国王。达提耶族虽与天神（Devas）出于同一亲缘，却始终与之处于战争状态。达提耶族在人类的祭祀供奉或世界的治理与引导中没有份额。但有时他们强盛起来，将所有天神逐出天界，夺取众神的宝座，统治一段时间。然后，天神们祈求于宇宙的全在之主毗湿奴（Vishnu），他便助他们脱离困境。达提耶族被驱逐，众神再度执政。金衣霸，达提耶族之王，也轮到他征服了他的表亲天神，坐上了天界的宝座，统治着三界——由人与动物居住的中界，由众神及神圣存在居住的天界，以及由达提耶族居住的冥界。随后，金衣霸自封为整个宇宙的上帝，宣告除他之外别无上帝，并严令宣布，无处可向全能的毗湿奴献上礼拜；所有的礼拜从今往后必须全部献给他自己。
金衣霸有一个儿子，名叫普拉荷拉达（Prahlada）。事情是这样的：这位普拉荷拉达从婴儿期起便虔诚地信奉上帝。他幼时便显露出这种迹象；达提耶族之王担忧他想要从世界上消除的那种邪恶，将在自己家中冒头，便将儿子交给了两位名叫珊达（Shanda）和阿玛尔卡（Amarka）的教师——他们是极为严厉的纪律约束者——并严令普拉荷拉达绝不可听到毗湿奴的名字被提及。教师们将王子带回家中，令他与其他同龄孩子一起学习。但小普拉荷拉达非但不从书本中学习，反而将所有时间都用来教导其他男孩如何礼拜毗湿奴。当教师们发现这件事时，大为惊惶，因为他们对强大的金衣霸之王心存畏惧，便竭力劝阻这孩子不要这样教导。但普拉荷拉达无法停止教导和礼拜毗湿奴，就如同他无法停止呼吸一样。为了洗清自己，教师们便将这可怕的事实告诉了国王：他的儿子不仅自己礼拜毗湿奴，还通过教导所有其他孩子礼拜毗湿奴来"腐化"他们。
国王听到这些消息后大为震怒，传唤那孩子到面前。他试图用温言软语劝阻普拉荷拉达对毗湿奴的礼拜，并教导他，唯有他这个国王才是应该礼拜的上帝。但此举毫无效果。孩子一再声称，宇宙的全在之主毗湿奴，是唯一应当礼拜的存在——因为连他国王本人，也只是在毗湿奴乐意的时候，才能保有自己的王位。国王的愤怒无以复加，命令立即将那男孩处死。于是达提耶族用尖利的武器刺击他；但普拉荷拉达的心思是如此专注于毗湿奴，他根本感觉不到任何痛苦。
当父王看到情形如此，他感到惊恐，但达提耶族最恶劣的情欲已被激起，便谋划出各种邪恶的手段来杀死这男孩。他命令将男孩置于大象脚下踩踏。那头被激怒的大象无法碾碎他的身体，就如同无法碾碎一块铁块一样。这一手段也没有收到任何效果。然后国王命令将男孩从悬崖上抛下，这道命令也如期执行；但由于毗湿奴居于普拉荷拉达心中，他降落大地，轻柔得如同一朵花落在草地上。此后，毒药、烈火、饥饿、投入水井、咒术及其他手段被一一施于这孩子，但统统无效。任何东西都伤害不了心中居住着毗湿奴的人。
最终，国王命令用从冥界召来的巨大毒蛇将男孩捆缚，然后将他沉入海底，并在他身上堆压大山，以便随着时间推移，即便不能立即将他压死，也终究能使他毙命；并命令将他就此丢弃于这般困境中。即便遭受如此对待，男孩仍继续祈祷他所挚爱的毗湿奴："顶礼汝，宇宙之主。美丽的毗湿奴啊！"他如此思念和冥想毗湿奴，开始感到毗湿奴就在他身边，乃至感到毗湿奴就在他自己的灵魂中，直到他开始感到自己就是毗湿奴，他就是一切，无处不在。
当他一意识到这一点，所有的蛇绳便轰然断裂；大山化为粉尘，海洋翻涌，他被轻轻地托举到浪潮之上，被安全地送到了岸边。当普拉荷拉达站在那里，他忘记了自己是一个达提耶族人，忘记了自己拥有一具凡人的身体：他感到自己就是宇宙，一切自然的力量从他那里散发出来；自然界中没有任何东西能够伤害他；他自己就是自然的主宰者。时间就在这种不间断的极乐狂喜中流逝，直到普拉荷拉达渐渐记起他有一具身体，他是普拉荷拉达。一旦他再次有了身体的意识，他看到上帝既在内又在外；万物皆以毗湿奴的形相呈现于他面前。
当金衣霸国王惊恐地发现，所有想除掉这个对他的敌手毗湿奴全心全意、一往情深的男孩的凡俗手段都无能为力时，他茫然不知所措。国王再次将男孩传召到面前，以温和的方式试图再度劝说他听从自己的意见。但普拉荷拉达的回答依旧如故。国王以为，随着年龄增长和进一步训练，男孩这些童稚的癖性会得到矫正，便再次将他交给教师珊达和阿玛尔卡管教，要他们教导他帝王之道。但那些教导对普拉荷拉达毫无吸引力，他把时间都花在教导同学们走上对毗湿奴虔信之道上。
当父王再次听说此事，再度勃然大怒，将男孩召来，威胁要杀死他，并用最恶毒的语言辱骂毗湿奴。但普拉荷拉达仍坚持认为，毗湿奴是宇宙的主，是无始的、无终的、全能的、无所不在的，唯有他才应当受到礼拜。国王怒吼道："你这恶贼，如果你的毗湿奴是无处不在的上帝，他为何不居住在那边的柱子里？"普拉荷拉达谦恭地回答说，他确实住在那里。"若是如此，"国王大喝道，"让他来保护你；我要用这把剑杀死你。"说罢，国王挥剑扑向男孩，对那根柱子猛地劈了一剑。刹那间，惊雷般的声音响彻，只见毗湿奴从柱中现身，化为他那威猛的那罗辛哈（Nrisimha）形相——半狮半人！达提耶族人惊慌失措，四散奔逃；而金衣霸与他激烈搏斗了许久，直到最终被降服而死。
然后，天神们从天界降临，向毗湿奴献上赞颂，普拉荷拉达也拜倒在他的足下，唱出了精美绝伦的赞颂与虔信之歌。他听到上帝的声音说："普拉荷拉达，求吧，求你所渴望的任何东西；你是我最钟爱的孩子，求你所想要的任何东西。"普拉荷拉达哽咽着回答道："主啊，我已见到了你。我还能有什么所求？请不要以尘世或天界的恩赐来诱惑我。"声音再次说道："孩子，还是求些什么吧。"普拉荷拉达回答道："主啊，那些无明（ignorant）的人对尘世事物所怀有的强烈的爱，愿我对你也怀有同等的爱；愿我对你有同样强烈的爱，但这爱纯粹是为了爱本身！"
于是主说："普拉荷拉达，虽然我的至诚虔信者从不追求此世或来世的任何东西，但依我之命，你可以在当下这一宇宙纪元终结之前，享受此世的福祉，并以你的心专注于我，行宗教功德之事。如此，随着时光流逝，在你的身体消解之后，你将达到我处。"如此赐福于普拉荷拉达之后，毗湿奴消失了。然后，以梵天（Brahma）为首的众神将普拉荷拉达立于达提耶族的王位之上，各回其所。
English
THE STORY OF PRAHLADA
(Delivered in California)
Hiranyakashipu was the king of the Daityas. The Daityas, though born of the same parentage as the Devas or gods, were always, at war with the latter. The Daityas had no part in the oblations and offerings of mankind, or in the government of the world and its guidance. But sometimes they waxed strong and drove all the Devas from the heaven, and seized the throne of the gods and ruled for a time. Then the Devas prayed to Vishnu, the Omnipresent Lord of the universe, and He helped them out of their difficulty. The Daityas were driven out, and once more the gods reigned. Hiranyakashipu, king of the Daityas, in his turn, succeeded in conquering his cousins, the Devas, and seated himself on the throne of the heavens and ruled the three worlds — the middle world, inhabited by men and animals; the heavens, inhabited by gods and godlike beings; and the nether world, inhabited by the Daityas. Now, Hiranyakashipu declared himself to be the God of the whole universe and proclaimed that there was no other God but himself, and strictly enjoined that the Omnipotent Vishnu should have no worship offered to Him anywhere; and that all the worship should henceforth be given to himself only.
Hiranyakashipu had a son called Prahlâda. Now, it so happened, that this Prahlada from his infancy was devoted to God. He showed indications of this as a child; and the king of the Daityas, fearing that the evil he wanted to drive away from the world would crop up in his own family, made over his son to two teachers called Shanda and Amarka, who were very stern disciplinarians, with strict injunctions that Prahlada was never to hear even the name of Vishnu mentioned. The teachers took the prince to their home, and there he was put to study with the other children of his age. But the little Prahlada, instead of learning from his books, devoted all the time in teaching the other boys how to worship Vishnu. When the teachers found it out, they were frightened, for the fear of the mighty king Hiranyakashipu was upon them, and they tried their best to dissuade the child from such teachings. But Prahlada could no more stop his teaching and worshipping Vishnu than he could stop breathing. To clear themselves, the teachers told the terrible fact to the king, that his son was not only worshipping Vishnu himself, but also spoiling all the other children by teaching them to worship Vishnu.
The monarch became very much enraged when he heard this and called the boy to his presence. He tried by gentle persuasions to dissuade Prahlada from the worship of Vishnu and taught him that he, the king, was the only God to worship. But it was to no purpose. The child declared, again and again, that the Omnipresent Vishnu, Lord of the universe, was the only Being to be worshipped — for even he, the king, held his throne only so long as it pleased Vishnu. The rage of the king knew no bounds, and he ordered the boy to be immediately killed. So the Daityas struck him with pointed weapons; but Prahlad's mind was so intent upon Vishnu that he felt no pain from them.
When his father, the king, saw that it was so, he became frightened but, roused to the worst passions of a Daitya, contrived various diabolical means to kill the boy. He ordered him to be trampled under foot by an elephant. The enraged elephant could not crush the body any more than he could have crushed a block of iron. So this measure also was to no purpose. Then the king ordered the boy to be thrown over a precipice, and this order too was duly carried out; but, as Vishnu resided in the heart of Prahlada, he came down upon the earth as gently as a flower drops upon the grass. Poison, fire, starvation, throwing into a well, enchantments, and other measures were then tried on the child one after another, but to no purpose. Nothing could hurt him in whose heart dwelt Vishnu.
At last, the king ordered the boy to be tied with mighty serpents called up from the nether worlds, and then cast to the bottom of the ocean, where huge mountains were to be piled high upon him, so that in course of time, if not immediately, he might die; and he ordered him to be left in this plight. Even though treated in this manner, the boy continued to pray to his beloved Vishnu: "Salutation to Thee, Lord of the universe. Thou beautiful Vishnu!" Thus thinking and meditating on Vishnu, he began to feel that Vishnu was near him, nay, that He was in his own soul, until he began to feel that he was Vishnu, and that he was everything and everywhere.
As soon as he realised this, all the snake bonds snapped asunder; the mountains were pulverised, the ocean upheaved, and he was gently lifted up above the waves, and safely carried to the shore. As Prahlada stood there, he forgot that he was a Daitya and had a mortal body: he felt he was the universe and all the powers of the universe emanated from him; there was nothing in nature that could injure him; he himself was the ruler of nature. Time passed thus, in one unbroken ecstasy of bliss, until gradually Prahlada began to remember that he had a body and that he was Prahlada. As soon as he became once more conscious of the body, he saw that God was within and without; and everything appeared to him as Vishnu.
When the king Hiranyakashipu found to his horror that all mortal means of getting rid of the boy who was perfectly devoted to his enemy, the God Vishnu, were powerless, he was at a loss to know what to do. The king had the boy again brought before him, and tried to persuade him once more to listen to his advice, through gentle means. But Prahlada made the same reply. Thinking, however, that these childish whims of the boy would be rectified with age and further training, he put him again under the charge of the teachers, Shanda and Amarka, asking them to teach him the duties of the king. But those teachings did not appeal to Prahlada, and he spent his time in instructing his schoolmates in the path of devotion to the Lord Vishnu.
When his father came to hear about it, he again became furious with rage, and calling the boy to him, threatened to kill him, and abused Vishnu in the worst language. But Prahlada still insisted that Vishnu was the Lord of the universe, the Beginningless, the Endless, the Omnipotent and the Omnipresent, and as such, he alone was to be worshipped. The king roared with anger and said: "Thou evil one, if thy Vishnu is God omnipresent, why doth he not reside in that pillar yonder?" Prahlada humbly submitted that He did do so. "If so," cried the king, "let him defend thee; I will kill thee with this sword." Thus saying the king rushed at him with sword in hand, and dealt a terrible blow at the pillar. Instantly thundering voice was heard, and lo and behold, there issued forth from the pillar Vishnu in His awful Nrisimha form — half-lion, half-man! Panic-stricken, the Daityas ran away in all directions; but Hiranyakashipu fought with him long and desperately, till he was finally overpowered and killed.
Then the gods descended from heaven and offered hymns to Vishnu, and Prahlada also fell at His feet and broke forth into exquisite hymns of praise and devotion. And he heard the Voice of God saying, "Ask, Prahlada ask for anything thou desires"; thou art My favourite child; therefore ask for anything thou mayest wish." And Prahlada choked with feelings replied, "Lord, I have seen Thee. What else can I want? Do thou not tempt me with earthly or heavenly boons." Again the Voice said: "Yet ask something, my son." And then Prahlada replied, "That intense love, O Lord, which the ignorant bear to worldly things, may I have the same love for Thee; may I have the same intensity of love for Thee, but only for love's sake!"
Then the Lord said, "Prahlada, though My intense devotees never desire for anything, here or hereafter, yet by My command, do thou enjoy the blessings of this world to the end of the present cycle, and perform works of religious merit, with thy heart fixed on Me. And thus in time, after the dissolution of thy body, thou shalt attain Me." Thus blessing Prahlada, the Lord Vishnu disappeared. Then the gods headed by Brahma installed Prahlada on the throne of the Daityas and returned to their respective spheres.
文本来自Wikisource公共领域。原版由阿德瓦伊塔修道院出版。