Shloka 18
Portents at the Birth of Diti’s Sons and Hiraṇyākṣa Challenges Varuṇa
प्रजापतिर्नाम तयोरकार्षीद् य: प्राक् स्वदेहाद्यमयोरजायत । तं वै हिरण्यकशिपुं विदु: प्रजा यं तं हिरण्याक्षमसूत साग्रत: ॥ १८ ॥
prajāpatir nāma tayor akārṣīd yaḥ prāk sva-dehād yamayor ajāyata taṁ vai hiraṇyakaśipuṁ viduḥ prajā yaṁ taṁ hiraṇyākṣam asūta sāgrataḥ
Prajāpati Kaśyapa, créateur des êtres, donna leurs noms aux jumeaux. Celui qui naquit le premier fut appelé Hiraṇyākṣa, et celui qui fut conçu le premier dans le sein de Diti reçut le nom d’Hiraṇyakaśipu.
There is an authoritative Vedic literature called Piṇḍa-siddhi in which the scientific understanding of pregnancy is very nicely described. It is stated that when the male secretion enters the menstrual flux in the uterus in two successive drops, the mother develops two embryos in her womb, and she brings forth twins in a reverse order to that in which they were first conceived; the child conceived first is born later, and the one conceived later is brought forth first. The first child conceived in the womb lives behind the second child, so when birth takes place the second child appears first, and the first child appears second. In this case it is understood that Hiraṇyākṣa, the second child conceived, was delivered first, whereas Hiraṇyakaśipu, the child who was behind him, having been conceived first, was born second.
FAQs
This verse states that a Prajāpati born from Diti and Kaśyapa was known as Hiraṇyakaśipu, and from him, Hiraṇyākṣa was later born—placing them within a specific genealogical line in Canto 3.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while narrating the events and lineage connected to Hiraṇyākṣa’s appearance and exploits.
It reminds readers that actions and tendencies unfold through lineage and influence, encouraging conscious cultivation of sattvic qualities and devotion so one’s future—personal and generational—moves toward dharma and bhakti.