Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 54
Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath, the Assault on Vedic Culture, and the Boy-Yamarāja’s Teaching on the Soul
कामं नयतु मां देव: किमर्धेनात्मनो हि मे । दीनेन जीवता दु:खमनेन विधुरायुषा ॥ ५४ ॥
kāmaṁ nayatu māṁ devaḥ kim ardhenātmano hi me dīnena jīvatā duḥkham anena vidhurāyuṣā
If unkind Providence takes away my wife—who is half my very body—why not take me as well? What use is it to live in sorrow, bereaved of her, as though only half of me remains?
FAQs
This verse voices the anguish of living with a fragile, limited lifespan, describing such existence as suffering when one is obsessed with bodily survival and time-bound life.
During his intense austerities to gain extraordinary power, Hiranyakashipu expresses desperation about mortality—implying that a diminished, vulnerable life feels pointless to him.
Use awareness of life’s brevity to prioritize lasting spiritual values—devotion, character, and purposeful living—rather than anxiety-driven attachment to mere survival or status.