Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 5
Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Austerities and Brahmā’s Boons
The Architecture of ‘Conditional Immortality’
चुक्षुभुर्नद्युदन्वन्त: सद्वीपाद्रिश्चचाल भू: । निपेतु: सग्रहास्तारा जज्वलुश्च दिशो दश ॥ ५ ॥
cukṣubhur nady-udanvantaḥ sadvīpādriś cacāla bhūḥ nipetuḥ sagrahās tārā jajvaluś ca diśo daśa
Because of the power of his severe austerities, all the rivers and oceans were agitated, the surface of the globe, with its mountains and islands, began trembling, and the stars and planets fell. All directions were ablaze.
FAQs
It describes cosmic upheaval—rivers and oceans churning, the earth shaking with its islands and mountains, stars and planets seeming to fall, and all ten directions appearing to blaze.
The verse portrays how Hiraṇyakaśipu’s extreme tapasya generated intense heat and disruption in the universe, signaling that his pursuit of power was affecting the cosmic order.
Powerful effort without devotion and right intention can create disturbance; the Bhagavatam urges channeling determination toward dharma and bhakti so one’s strength becomes purifying rather than disruptive.