Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 22
Portents at the Birth of Diti’s Sons and Hiraṇyākṣa Challenges Varuṇa
मनोवीर्यवरोत्सिक्तमसृण्यमकुतोभयम् । भीता निलिल्यिरे देवास्तार्क्ष्यत्रस्ता इवाहय: ॥ २२ ॥
mano-vīrya-varotsiktam asṛṇyam akuto-bhayam bhītā nililyire devās tārkṣya-trastā ivāhayaḥ
His strength of mind and body, together with the boon he had received, made him swollen with pride. He feared death at no one’s hands, and none could check him. Thus the gods, at the mere sight of him, were seized with terror and hid themselves, as serpents hide for fear of Garuḍa.
The asuras are generally strongly built, as described here, and therefore their mental condition is very sound, and their prowess is also extraordinary. Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu, having received the boon that they would not be killed by any other living entity within this universe, were almost immortal, and thus they were completely fearless.
FAQs
This verse describes how Hiraṇyākṣa’s proud, fierce, and fearless aggression made the demigods so frightened that they hid themselves, compared to serpents vanishing in fear of Garuḍa.
Garuḍa is the natural terror of serpents; the comparison emphasizes how completely the demigods withdrew and concealed themselves when overwhelmed by Hiraṇyākṣa’s threat.
It warns that pride in one’s strength can create fear and disorder around us; cultivating humility and aligning power with dharma prevents harm and restores stability.