Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 11
Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Austerities and Brahmā’s Boons
The Architecture of ‘Conditional Immortality’
अन्यथेदं विधास्येऽहमयथा पूर्वमोजसा । किमन्यै: कालनिर्धूतै: कल्पान्ते वैष्णवादिभि: ॥ ११ ॥
anyathedaṁ vidhāsye ’ham ayathā pūrvam ojasā kim anyaiḥ kāla-nirdhūtaiḥ kalpānte vaiṣṇavādibhiḥ
我が苛烈な苦行の力によって、この世界を以前のままにはせず、我が威力のままに別様に作り替える。善業と悪業の果報をも逆転させ、世に定まった慣行を覆してやる。劫の終わりにはドゥルヴァローカさえ時に滅ぼされるのだ、何の価値がある？ゆえに私は梵天の位を選ぶ。
Hiraṇyakaśipu’s demoniac determination was explained to Lord Brahmā by the demigods, who informed him that Hiraṇyakaśipu wanted to overturn all the established principles. After executing severe austerities, people within this material world are promoted to the heavenly planets, but Hiraṇyakaśipu wanted them to be unhappy, suffering because of the diplomatic feelings of the demigods, even in the heavenly planets. He wanted those who were harassed in this world by material transactions to be unhappy for the same reason, even in the heavenly planets. Indeed, he wanted to introduce such harassment everywhere. One might ask how this would be possible, since the universal order has been established since time immemorial, but Hiraṇyakaśipu was proud to declare that he would be able to do everything by the power of his tapasya. He even wanted to make the Vaiṣṇavas’ position insecure. These are some of the symptoms of asuric determination.
FAQs
This verse highlights that kāla ultimately sweeps away all conditioned beings at the end of a cosmic cycle, exposing the futility of relying on temporary power.
In his pride and enmity toward Viṣṇu, Hiraṇyakaśipu dismisses devotees as insignificant, claiming he will reshape the world by his own strength despite time’s supremacy.
It cautions against ego-driven attempts to control everything; remembering time’s inevitability encourages humility and a turn toward lasting spiritual values like devotion.