Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 36
Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Austerities and Brahmā’s Boons
The Architecture of ‘Conditional Immortality’
नान्तर्बहिर्दिवा नक्तमन्यस्मादपि चायुधै: । न भूमौ नाम्बरे मृत्युर्न नरैर्न मृगैरपि ॥ ३६ ॥
nāntar bahir divā naktam anyasmād api cāyudhaiḥ na bhūmau nāmbare mṛtyur na narair na mṛgair api
Concede-me não morrer nem dentro nem fora de morada alguma, nem de dia nem de noite, nem na terra nem no céu; e que minha morte não seja causada por arma alguma, nem por homem, nem por animal.
Hiraṇyakaśipu was very much afraid of Viṣṇu’s becoming an animal to kill him because his brother had been killed by Viṣṇu when the Lord took the shape of a boar. He was therefore very careful to guard against all kinds of animals. But even without taking the shape of an animal, Viṣṇu could kill him by hurling His Sudarśana cakra, which can go anywhere without the Lord’s physical presence. Therefore Hiraṇyakaśipu was careful to guard against all kinds of weapons. He guarded against all kinds of time, space and countries because he was afraid of being killed by someone else in another land. There are many other planets, higher and lower, and therefore he prayed for the benediction of not being killed by any resident of any of these planets. There are three original deities — Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara. Hiraṇyakaśipu knew that Brahmā would not kill him, but he also wanted not to be killed by Lord Viṣṇu or Lord Śiva. Consequently, he prayed for such a benediction. Thus Hiraṇyakaśipu thought himself securely protected from any kind of death caused by any living entity within this universe. He also carefully guarded against natural death, which might take place within his house or outside of the house.
FAQs
He asked that he not be killed from within or without, by day or night, by weapons, on earth or in the sky, and not by humans or animals—attempting to make his death impossible.
After severe austerities, he sought near-invincibility to dominate the universe and eliminate fear of death, crafting conditions meant to cover every ordinary possibility of being killed.
Trying to secure absolute control through loopholes and power cannot defeat destiny and the Supreme; real security is found in devotion, humility, and righteous living rather than manipulation.