Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 1
Brahmā’s Boons, Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Cosmic Tyranny, and Prahlāda’s Transcendental Qualities
श्रीनारद उवाच एवं वृत: शतधृतिर्हिरण्यकशिपोरथ । प्रादात्तत्तपसा प्रीतो वरांस्तस्य सुदुर्लभान् ॥ १ ॥
śrī-nārada uvāca evaṁ vṛtaḥ śata-dhṛtir hiraṇyakaśipor atha prādāt tat-tapasā prīto varāṁs tasya sudurlabhān
ശ്രീ നാരദൻ പറഞ്ഞു: ഇങ്ങനെ അപേക്ഷിക്കപ്പെട്ടപ്പോൾ, ഹിരണ്യകശിപുവിന്റെ ദുഷ്കരമായ തപസ്സിൽ പ്രസന്നനായ ബ്രഹ്മദേവൻ അവനു അപൂർവമായ വരങ്ങൾ നല്കി।
FAQs
This verse shows that intense tapasya can even please Lord Brahmā and result in rare, difficult-to-obtain boons—demonstrating the potency of austerity when performed with great determination.
Because Brahmā was satisfied by Hiraṇyakaśipu’s severe austerities; as the cosmic administrator, he responds when such tapasya compels his attention, even if the performer is an asura.
It teaches that disciplined effort and self-control produce powerful results; therefore, one should direct determination and austerity toward spiritually beneficial goals rather than ego-driven ambitions.