Shloka 7
Brahmā’s Boons, Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Cosmic Tyranny, and Prahlāda’s Transcendental Qualities
स विजित्य दिश: सर्वा लोकांश्च त्रीन् महासुर: । देवासुरमनुष्येन्द्रगन्धर्वगरुडोरगान् ॥ ५ ॥ सिद्धचारणविद्याध्रानृषीन् पितृपतीन्मनून् । यक्षरक्ष:पिशाचेशान् प्रेतभूतपतीनपि ॥ ६ ॥ सर्वसत्त्वपतीञ्जित्वा वशमानीय विश्वजित् । जहार लोकपालानां स्थानानि सह तेजसा ॥ ७ ॥
sa vijitya diśaḥ sarvā lokāṁś ca trīn mahāsuraḥ devāsura-manuṣyendra- gandharva-garuḍoragān
Hiraṇyakaśipu, le grand asura, vainquit toutes les directions et soumit les trois mondes—supérieur, médian et inférieur—y compris les devas, les asuras, les rois des hommes, les gandharvas, les garuḍas, les grands serpents, les siddhas, cāraṇas et vidyādharas, les ṛṣis, Yamarāja, les Manus, les yakṣas, rākṣasas, piśācas et leurs maîtres, ainsi que les seigneurs des preta et des bhūta. Il assujettit les souverains de tous les êtres et s’empara des demeures des lokapālas avec leur éclat et leur influence.
The word garuḍa in this verse indicates that there are planets of great birds like Garuḍa. Similarly, the word uraga indicates that there are planets of enormous serpents. Such a description of the various planets of the universe may challenge modern scientists who think that all planets but this earth are vacant. These scientists claim to have launched excursions to the moon, where they have found no living entities but only big craters full of dust and stone, although in fact the moon is so brilliant that it acts like the sun in illuminating the entire universe. Of course, it is not possible to convince modern scientists of the Vedic information about the universe. Nonetheless, we are not very much impressed by the words of scientists who say that all other planets are vacant and that only the earth is full of living entities.
FAQs
This verse describes Hiraṇyakaśipu’s sweeping conquest—subduing devas, humans, Gandharvas, sages, and many classes of beings—until he even usurps the posts and splendor of the Lokapālas, showing the extent of his temporary, fear-based domination.
Śukadeva highlights how far adharma can appear to rise in the world, setting the stage for the contrast: the Lord’s protection of His devotee Prahlāda and the eventual collapse of arrogant, oppressive power.
Worldly authority and brilliance can be seized and lost; the Bhagavatam urges seekers to rely on devotion and righteousness rather than status, intimidation, or ego-driven ambition.