[Hiranyakasipu is pacing in his chambers in agitation with one of his loyal lieutenants watching on]

Hiranyakasipu: Do you think I want to do this? You know me. You’ve been with me right through this. Everything I’ve done, I’ve done for the family. Now, my own son? How has it come to this?

[He stops up short and raises a clenched fist]

The Aditya family left us no choice! They did not want to give us a share of the sacrifices, even though we are of the same father. They set us off down this path of division, and now they are reaping the bitter fruits of their divisive policy. Their women are wailing and they wander in the streets. They chose this path, not I.

Destiny has decided in our favour. Our determination was strong and our vision did not waver through the long years it has taken us to achieve what is now justly ours. Still, without the favour of destiny that alone would not have been enough. The justness of our cause, and the qualification of our family to carry it out, have been proven by the outcome. History has judged us and we have been vindicated!

We prevailed in open combat in a just and honourable war fought according to religious principles. We routed our enemy decisively and carried the day. Visnu avoided entering the war under the plea of neutrality, and we respected that. I am a man of honour, a man of my word, and all those who ride under my banner are likewise honourable men. We gave quarter when it was asked, and spared the women and children. We are not barbarians.

But now, throwing away his pretense of impartiality after the defeat of the Aditya family, Visnu has revealed his true heart and mind. His dissembling words of disinterest actually concealed a secret alliance with the Adityas, but rather than honourably take to the field on their side and share their fate, for better or for worse, he has waited to observe the outcome and act accordingly.

He has staged a cowardly and dishonourable attack on our rear when we were unprepared to respond. Rather than face me openly on the field of battle he has instead killed my younger brother in an unmatched battle. Motivated by malice and a desire for vengeance he has dishonored our family.

And now, my own son has somehow fallen under his sway! Visnu is the enemy of our family, previously secretly, and now openly allied with our sworn enemy, the Aditya family, and worse, he is the assassin of Hiranyaksa, my brother and Prahlada’s own uncle. His own flesh and blood! Everything we have done we have done for the family! They would have been happy to leave us living as beggars!

I remember Hiranyaksa at the point of fainting as we stormed the ramparts of the castle, pierced through by arrows and sorely pressed by the foe. For some time it appeared almost as if we would be repelled. Then Hiranyaksa roared like a lion and the soldiers of the Aditya family flew back from his club, scattered like leaves in the wind. Blood filled the air like rain and we took renewed heart. He was covered in a mixture of his own blood and the blood of our enemies, and his face shone with fierce determination and certain terrible death for our enemies as he pressed forward on the left flank of our assault, striking fear into the hearts of all who beheld him.

Now that same brother of mine who served our family so valiantly is gone, killed in a dishonourable manner by a personality who does not know honour or valour. It seems that Visnu is beyond both honour and shame. He is not bound by the codes of conduct that determine the behaviour of honourable and civilized men. He acts whimsically, in a completely independent manner, without consideration of who is his friend and who is his foe. He seeks only to please himself, with no obligation to anyone else.

Now that my son has fallen under his sway he has become a traitor to his family. If this illusory and improper attachment cannot be severed, then his head must be severed!

Lieutenant: But he is only a child, barely five years old! Such a personality is not to be chastised so strongly. We have always observed religious principles. We have always fought with honour. We cannot stoop to the same level as Visnu. It seems that association with him has made you indifferent to the codes of conduct of this world. To kill a child in this way, and your own son!

Hiranyakasipu: Do not presume to speak to me about honour and proper behaviour! Everything I have done, I have done for the family. Whatever a man does for himself dies with him. What he does for others, lives on.

Sometimes a leader is called upon to make sacrifices. Sometimes for the greater good he is even called upon to sacrifice himself. Should I be a coward and walk away from my duty? I am not to be swayed by illusory identification with the material body, as Visnu has been. We have waged war on the Aditya family, the sons of my own father! I have already given up my own body once for this cause. I am prepared to give up my son if necessary.

We are placed into these bodies in a particular situation of life by the will of providence. Having been born in a particular family we are duty-bound to that family. One who betrays his family acts irreligiously. Prahlada has given up his God-given duty to his family to align himself with Visnu. If a limb becomes cancerous it must be cut off. The individual may be given up for the good of the family. By choosing the path of the enemies of this family he is no longer my son. That is why Prahalada must die!

“Do not underestimate the power of the Dark Side…”