Shloka 24

Matsya Purana — Hiranyakashipu’s Boons

Devanagari script

लब्धमात्रे वरे चाथ सर्वाः सो ऽबाधत प्रजाः हिरण्यकशिपुर्दैत्यो वरदानेन दर्पितः //

Transliteration

labdhamātre vare cātha sarvāḥ so 'bādhata prajāḥ hiraṇyakaśipurdaityo varadānena darpitaḥ //

Translation

And as soon as he had obtained the boon, that Daitya Hiraṇyakaśipu—made arrogant by the grant of the boon—began to harass all the creatures (subjects) everywhere.

Word by Word

• लब्धमात्रे: as soon as obtained

• वरे: the boon

• चाथ: and then

• सर्वाः: all

• सः: he

• अबाधत: afflicted/oppressed/harassed

• प्रजाः: the beings/subjects/creatures

• हिरण्यकशिपुः: Hiraṇyakaśipu

• दैत्यः: the Daitya (demon of Diti’s line)

• वरदानेन: by the giving of a boon

• दर्पितः: puffed up/arrogant

Speaker

• Suta/Narrator (Puranic narration within the Matsya Purana’s dialogue frame)

Entities Mentioned

• Hiranyakashipu

Tags

• Daityas
• Boon
• Hubris
• Oppression
• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it highlights a moral pattern in Puranic history—after receiving extraordinary power (a boon), a being may fall into adharma and disturb the world’s order, which often becomes a cause for later divine intervention.

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

By portraying the harassment of prajāḥ (subjects/creatures) as the immediate fruit of arrogance, the verse implicitly contrasts righteous rule: power should protect and uphold dharma, not oppress; harming subjects is a hallmark of adharma and invites downfall.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; its significance is ethical and political—warning against pride born of special favors or powers.