Shloka 11

Matsya Purana — Hiranyakashipu’s Boons

Devanagari script

*हिरण्यकशिपुरुवाच न देवासुरगन्धर्वा न यक्षोरगराक्षसाः न मानुषाः पिशाचा वा हन्युर्मां देवसत्तम //

Transliteration

*hiraṇyakaśipuruvāca na devāsuragandharvā na yakṣoragarākṣasāḥ na mānuṣāḥ piśācā vā hanyurmāṃ devasattama //

Translation

Hiraṇyakaśipu said: “Neither the Devas, nor the Asuras, nor the Gandharvas; neither the Yakṣas, the Nāgas, nor the Rākṣasas; nor even human beings or Piśācas—none of these, O best among the gods, can slay me.”

Word by Word

• हिरण्यकशिपुः (Hiraṇyakaśipu): the Daitya king Hiraṇyakaśipu

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• न (na): not / neither

• देव (deva): gods

• असुर (asura): demons / anti-gods

• गन्धर्व (gandharva): celestial musicians

• यक्ष (yakṣa): nature-spirits / guardians of treasures

• उरग (uraga): serpent / nāga

• राक्षस (rākṣasa): ogre-like demons

• मानुष (mānuṣa): human beings

• पिशाच (piśāca): ghouls / malignant spirits

• वा (vā): or

• हन्युः (hanyur): may slay / could kill

• मां (mām): me

• देवसत्तम (devasattama): O best of the gods

Speaker

• Hiraṇyakaśipu

Entities Mentioned

• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Devas
• Asuras
• Gandharvas
• Yakṣas
• Uraga (Nāgas)
• Rākṣasas
• Humans (Mānuṣas)
• Piśācas

Tags

• Daitya-boon
• Invincibility-claim
• Puranic-dialogue
• Dharma-vs-adhamra
• Mythic-cosmology

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it highlights a cosmic hierarchy of beings and a Daitya’s boast of immunity from all known classes of creatures, a common Purāṇic setup for divine intervention beyond ordinary categories.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It functions as a warning against arrogance (mada) and misuse of power: a ruler who imagines himself beyond accountability violates dharma, inviting downfall—an ethical theme repeatedly stressed in Purāṇic kingship ideals.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its significance is narrative and theological, establishing the scope of beings who are declared incapable of killing the speaker.