KNOWLEDGE IS NOT ENOUGH

I was so fortunate yesterday on Lord Nrshimadeva's appearance to have the association of a dear devotee friend. Chanting, reading and Discussing the pastime, taking prasadam. Very nice.

One thing I was struck with is how knowledge is not enough. Hiranyakasipu had full knowledge of the temporary nature of the material world. He had realization of the cycle of samsara. His consoling his family members upon the demise of his brother Hiranyaksa sounds like it could be Bhagavatam class in and of itself. He explains perfectly about the materially conditioned state.

But because his attitude is inimical towards the Personality of Godhead. He could only achieve brahman, the impersonal brahmajyoti, the rays of the bodily effulgence of the Lord but could not enter the pastimes of the Personality of Godhead. Never mind not achieving Vrndavan he could not enter any of the planets where the Personality of Godhead resides, Not even the Vaikuntha lokas.

He had already achieved liberation by dint of his knowledge. He had become supernaturally powerful by his austerities offered to Lord Brahma. He did not need to be killed directly by the Lord in order to enter brahman. He was already qualified for that. The reason he was Personally killed by the Lord is that he was torturing his devotee son. Prahlad was the embodiment of pure devotion to the Lord and the Lord does not tolerate anyone attacking such a pure devotee.

Link to the Srimad Bhagavatam. The description of this pastime is described there.
https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/7/2