Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 16
Portents at the Birth of Diti’s Sons and Hiraṇyākṣa Challenges Varuṇa
तावादिदैत्यौ सहसा व्यज्यमानात्मपौरुषौ । ववृधातेऽश्मसारेण कायेनाद्रिपती इव ॥ १६ ॥
tāv ādi-daityau sahasā vyajyamānātma-pauruṣau vavṛdhāte ’śma-sāreṇa kāyenādri-patī iva
هذان الدَّيْتيان من الأزمنة الأولى أظهرا فجأة بأسًا غير مألوف؛ فغدت أجسادهما صلبة كالفولاذ وأخذت تنمو كجبلين عظيمين.
There are two classes of men in the world: one is called the demon, and the other is called the demigod. The demigods concern themselves with the spiritual upliftment of human society, whereas the demons are concerned with physical and material upliftment. The two demons born of Diti began to make their bodies as strong as iron frames, and they were so tall that they seemed to touch outer space. They were decorated with valuable ornaments, and they thought that this was success in life. Originally it was planned that Jaya and Vijaya, the two doorkeepers of Vaikuṇṭha, were to take birth in this material world, where, by the curse of the sages, they were to play the part of always being angry with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As demoniac persons, they became so angry that they were not concerned with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but simply with physical comforts and physical upliftment.
FAQs
This verse describes the foremost Daityas suddenly manifesting their prowess and swelling in size, their bodies becoming hard like stone—symbolizing asuric pride and intimidating power.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates how the two leading Daityas—Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu—expanded their formidable bodily strength like mountain-lords.
Material power can inflate ego and make the heart “stone-like”; cultivating humility and devotion prevents strength or success from turning into arrogance.