Shloka 1
Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Austerities and Brahmā’s Boons
The Architecture of ‘Conditional Immortality’
श्रीनारद उवाच हिरण्यकशिपू राजन्नजेयमजरामरम् । आत्मानमप्रतिद्वन्द्वमेकराजं व्यधित्सत ॥ १ ॥
śrī-nārada uvāca hiraṇyakaśipū rājann ajeyam ajarāmaram ātmānam apratidvandvam eka-rājaṁ vyadhitsata
শ্ৰী নাৰদ ক’লে—হে ৰাজন! হিৰণ্যকশিপুৱে নিজকে অজেয়, অজৰা-অমৰ আৰু প্ৰতিদ্বন্দ্বীহীন কৰি সমগ্ৰ জগতৰ একমাত্ৰ ৰজা হ’বলৈ ইচ্ছা কৰিছিল।
Such are the goals of the austerities performed by demons. Hiraṇyakaśipu wanted to receive a benediction from Lord Brahmā so that in the future he would be able to conquer Lord Brahmā’s abode. Similarly, another demon received a benediction from Lord Śiva but later wanted to kill Lord Śiva through that same benediction. Thus self-interested persons, by demoniac austerity, want to kill even their benedictors, whereas the Vaiṣṇava wants to remain an ever-existing servant of the Lord and never to occupy the post of the Lord. Through sāyujya-mukti, which is generally demanded by asuras, one merges into the existence of the Lord, but although one sometimes thus achieves the goal of the theory of monism, one falls down again to struggle in material existence.
FAQs
This verse describes Hiraṇyakaśipu’s ambition to be ageless, deathless, and unbeatable—highlighting how demonic mentality seeks supremacy rather than surrender to the Supreme Lord.
Nārada narrates the history and motives of Hiraṇyakaśipu to explain the background of Prahlāda’s appearance and the unfolding of the Lord’s protection of His devotee.
It cautions against letting ego and the hunger for control dominate one’s goals, encouraging humility and God-centered purpose instead of rivalry-driven ambition.