Shloka 22
Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Austerities and Brahmā’s Boons
The Architecture of ‘Conditional Immortality’
श्रीनारद उवाच इत्युक्त्वादिभवो देवो भक्षिताङ्गं पिपीलिकै: । कमण्डलुजलेनौक्षद्दिव्येनामोघराधसा ॥ २२ ॥
śrī-nārada uvāca ity uktvādi-bhavo devo bhakṣitāṅgaṁ pipīlikaiḥ kamaṇḍalu-jalenaukṣad divyenāmogha-rādhasā
श्री नारद मुनी म्हणाले—असे बोलून या विश्वाचा आदिपुरुष, अत्यंत सामर्थ्यवान ब्रह्मदेवांनी आपल्या कमंडलूतील दिव्य, अचूक तेजयुक्त जल हिरण्यकशिपूच्या त्या देहावर शिंपडले, जो मुंग्या व किड्यांनी खाल्ला होता; त्यामुळे तो पुन्हा सजीव झाला।
Lord Brahmā is the first created being within this universe and is empowered by the Supreme Lord to create. Tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye: the ādi-deva, or ādi-kavi — the first living creature — was personally taught by the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the heart. There was no one to teach him, but since the Lord is situated within Brahmā’s heart, Brahmā was educated by the Lord Himself. Lord Brahmā, being especially empowered, is infallible in doing whatever he wants. This is the meaning of the word amogha-rādhasā. He desired to restore Hiraṇyakaśipu’s original body, and therefore, by sprinkling transcendental water from his waterpot, he immediately did so.
FAQs
This verse states that Brahmā sprinkled divine water from his kamaṇḍalu, described as amogha-rādhasā—of unfailing potency—restoring one whose body had been eaten by ants.
Because Hiraṇyakaśipu had performed extreme austerities for a long time, his body was severely damaged; Brahmā, appearing to grant boons, first revived him by sprinkling divine kamaṇḍalu water.
The verse highlights disciplined endurance and the principle that sincere effort brings results; in modern life, steady spiritual practice and self-control can invite grace and inner renewal.