Shloka 16
Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath, the Assault on Vedic Culture, and the Boy-Yamarāja’s Teaching on the Soul
एवं विप्रकृते लोके दैत्येन्द्रानुचरैर्मुहु: । दिवं देवा: परित्यज्य भुवि चेरुरलक्षिता: ॥ १६ ॥
evaṁ viprakṛte loke daityendrānucarair muhuḥ divaṁ devāḥ parityajya bhuvi cerur alakṣitāḥ
Ainsi, troublé sans cesse par les événements contre nature provoqués par les partisans de Hiraṇyakaśipu, le monde fut bouleversé et les rites védiques cessèrent. Privés du fruit du yajña, les devas s’agitèrent; quittant le ciel, invisibles aux daityas, ils errèrent sur la terre pour observer les calamités.
As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, the performance of yajña brings reciprocal good fortune for both the human beings and the demigods. When the performances of yajña were stopped by the disturbances of the demons, the demigods were naturally bereft of the results of yajña and hampered in executing their respective duties. Therefore they came down to the planet earth to see how people had become disturbed and to consider what to do.
FAQs
Because Hiraṇyakaśipu’s followers repeatedly disturbed the world and threatened the devas, they abandoned Svarga and hid on earth, moving about unrecognized.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse while narrating to King Parīkṣit the conditions created by Hiraṇyakaśipu’s regime and the devas’ response.
When adharma becomes dominant, even the powerful may be forced into humility and caution; the verse highlights the need to seek divine shelter and maintain righteousness amid hostile conditions.