Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 37
Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Austerities and Brahmā’s Boons
The Architecture of ‘Conditional Immortality’
व्यसुभिर्वासुमद्भिर्वा सुरासुरमहोरगै: । अप्रतिद्वन्द्वतां युद्धे ऐकपत्यं च देहिनाम् ॥ ३७ ॥ सर्वेषां लोकपालानां महिमानं यथात्मन: । तपोयोगप्रभावाणां यन्न रिष्यति कर्हिचित् ॥ ३८ ॥
vyasubhir vāsumadbhir vā surāsura-mahoragaiḥ apratidvandvatāṁ yuddhe aika-patyaṁ ca dehinām
Concédeme no encontrar la muerte por nada, sea viviente o inerte; y que ni los devas, ni los asuras, ni las grandes serpientes de los mundos inferiores puedan matarme. Así como en el combate no tienes rival, haz que yo también quede sin adversario. Otórgame el señorío único sobre todos los seres y los regentes de los mundos, la gloria de tal puesto, y los poderes místicos logrados por austeridad y yoga, que jamás se pierden.
Lord Brahmā obtained his supreme position due to long austerities and penances, mystic yoga, meditation and so on. Hiraṇyakaśipu wanted a similar position. The ordinary powers achieved by mystic yoga, austerities and other processes are sometimes vanquished, but the powers obtained by the mercy of the Lord are never vanquished. Hiraṇyakaśipu, therefore, wanted a benediction that would never be vanquished.
FAQs
In this verse he asks to be without any rival in battle and to gain sole sovereignty over all embodied beings, surpassing gods, demons, and serpents.
After severe austerities, he sought divine benedictions to become invincible and dominate the universe—setting up the conflict that later culminates in Lord Narasiṁha protecting Prahlāda.
It highlights how ambition for supremacy can consume one’s purpose; the Bhagavatam contrasts such power-seeking with devotion, humility, and service-centered leadership.