Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 19
Portents at the Birth of Diti’s Sons and Hiraṇyākṣa Challenges Varuṇa
चक्रे हिरण्यकशिपुर्दोर्भ्यां ब्रह्मवरेण च । वशे सपालाँल्लोकांस्त्रीनकुतोमृत्युरुद्धत: ॥ १९ ॥
cakre hiraṇyakaśipur dorbhyāṁ brahma-vareṇa ca vaśe sa-pālāḻ lokāṁs trīn akuto-mṛtyur uddhataḥ
బ్రహ్ముని వరం పొందిన హిరణ్యకశిపుడు అహంకారంతో ఉద్ధతుడయ్యాడు. తన భుజబలంతో మూడు లోకాలను వారి పాలకులతో సహా వశపరచుకున్నాడు; అందువల్ల త్రిలోకాల్లో ఎవరివల్లా మరణభయం అతనికి లేదు.
As will be revealed in later chapters, Hiraṇyakaśipu underwent severe austerity and penance to satisfy Brahmā and thus receive a benediction of immortality. Actually, it is impossible even for Lord Brahmā to give anyone the benediction of becoming immortal, but indirectly Hiraṇyakaśipu received the benediction that no one within this material world would be able to kill him. In other words, because he originally came from the abode of Vaikuṇṭha, he was not to be killed by anyone within this material world. The Lord desired to appear Himself to kill him. One may be very proud of his material advancement in knowledge, but he cannot be immune to the four principles of material existence, namely birth, death, old age and disease. It was the Lord’s plan to teach people that even Hiraṇyakaśipu, who was so powerful and strongly built, could not live more than his destined duration of life. One may become as strong and puffed up as Hiraṇyakaśipu and bring under his control all the three worlds, but there is no possibility of continuing life eternally or keeping the conquered booty forever. So many emperors have ascended to power, and they are now lost in oblivion; that is the history of the world.
FAQs
This verse states that empowered by Brahmā’s boon and his own might, Hiraṇyakaśipu subdued the three worlds along with their rulers, and his fearlessness of death turned into arrogant tyranny.
Because the boon made him feel practically unconquerable, he lost normal restraint and became “fearless of death,” which the text presents as a cause of intensified pride and oppression.
Power, talent, or “boons” without humility and dharma can inflate ego and lead to harm; the verse warns seekers to pair strength with devotion, accountability, and self-control.