Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 54
Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath, the Assault on Vedic Culture, and the Boy-Yamarāja’s Teaching on the Soul
कामं नयतु मां देव: किमर्धेनात्मनो हि मे । दीनेन जीवता दु:खमनेन विधुरायुषा ॥ ५४ ॥
kāmaṁ nayatu māṁ devaḥ kim ardhenātmano hi me dīnena jīvatā duḥkham anena vidhurāyuṣā
यदि निर्दयी विधाता मेरी पत्नी—जो मेरे शरीर का आधा भाग है—को ले जाए, तो मुझे भी क्यों न ले जाए? पत्नी-वियोग से विधुर होकर, आधे शरीर के साथ दीन जीवन जीने का यह दुःख किस काम का?
FAQs
This verse voices the anguish of living with a fragile, limited lifespan, describing such existence as suffering when one is obsessed with bodily survival and time-bound life.
During his intense austerities to gain extraordinary power, Hiranyakashipu expresses desperation about mortality—implying that a diminished, vulnerable life feels pointless to him.
Use awareness of life’s brevity to prioritize lasting spiritual values—devotion, character, and purposeful living—rather than anxiety-driven attachment to mere survival or status.