TEXT 11
sri-hiranyakasipur uvaca
vyaktam tvam martu-kamo si
yo timatram vikatthase
mumursunam hi mandatman
nanu syur viklava girah
SYNONYMS
sri-hiranyakasipuh uvacathe blessed Hiranyakasipu said; vyaktamevidently; tvamyou; martu-kamahdesirous of death; asiare; yahone who; atimatramwithout limit; vikatthaseare boasting (as if you had conquered your senses whereas your father could not do so); mumursunamof persons who are about to meet immediate death; hiindeed; manda-atmanO unintelligent rascal; nanucertainly; syuhbecome; viklavahconfused; girahthe words.
TRANSLATION
Hiranyakasipu replied: You rascal, you are trying to minimize my value, as if you were better than me at controlling the senses. This is over-intelligent. I can therefore understand that you desire to die at my hands, for this kind of nonsensical talk is indulged in by those about to die.
PURPORT
It is said in Hitopadesa, upadeso hi murkhanam prokopaya na santaye. If good instructions are given to a foolish person, he does not take advantage of them, but becomes more and more angry. Prahlada Maharajas authorized instructions to his father were not accepted by Hiranyakasipu as truth; instead Hiranyakasipu became increasingly angry at his great son, who was a pure devotee. This kind of difficulty always exists when a devotee preaches Krsna consciousness to persons like Hiranyakasipu, who are interested in money and women. (The word hiranya means gold, and kasipu refers to cushions or good bedding.) Moreover, a father does not like to be instructed by his son, especially if the father is a demon. Prahlada Maharajas Vaisnava preaching to his demoniac father was indirectly effective, for because of Hiranyakasipus excessive jealousy of Krsna and His devotee, he was inviting Nrsimhadeva to kill him very quickly. Thus he was expediting his being killed by the Lord Himself. Although Hiranyakasipu was a demon, he is described here by the added word sri. Why? The answer is that fortunately he had such a great devotee son as Prahlada Maharaja. Thus although he was a demon, he would attain salvation and return home, back to Godhead.

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