Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 10
Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Austerities and Brahmā’s Boons
The Architecture of ‘Conditional Immortality’
सृष्ट्वा चराचरमिदं तपोयोगसमाधिना । अध्यास्ते सर्वधिष्ण्येभ्य: परमेष्ठी निजासनम् ॥ ९ ॥ तदहं वर्धमानेन तपोयोगसमाधिना । कालात्मनोश्च नित्यत्वात्साधयिष्ये तथात्मन: ॥ १० ॥
sṛṣṭvā carācaram idaṁ tapo-yoga-samādhinā adhyāste sarva-dhiṣṇyebhyaḥ parameṣṭhī nijāsanam
Nhờ sức mạnh của khổ hạnh, yoga và định (samādhi), Phạm Thiên (Brahmā) đã tạo dựng vũ trụ hữu tình và vô tình này rồi an tọa trên ngôi vị tối thượng, trở thành bậc đáng tôn kính nhất trong thế giới. Vì thời gian và tự ngã đều thường hằng, ta cũng sẽ tu khổ hạnh–yoga–định qua vô số đời để đạt đúng địa vị của Phạm Thiên.
Hiraṇyakaśipu’s determination was to occupy the post of Lord Brahmā, but this was impossible because Brahmā has a long duration of life. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (8.17) , sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmaṇo viduḥ: one thousand yugas equals one day of Brahmā. The duration of Brahmā’s life is extremely great, and consequently it was impossible for Hiraṇyakaśipu to occupy that post. Nonetheless, his decision was that since the self ( ātmā ) and time are both eternal, if he could not occupy that post in one lifetime he would continue to execute austerities life after life so that sometime he would be able to do so.
FAQs
This verse states that Brahmā manifests the moving and nonmoving creation by the power of tapas, yoga, and samādhi, indicating creation is accomplished through divine concentration and discipline, not mere physical effort.
Parameṣṭhī means the foremost among created beings—Brahmā occupies the highest administrative post within the universe and resides above the planetary abodes on his own seat.
The verse highlights that sustained discipline and focused absorption lead to powerful results—devotees can apply this by steady sādhana (japa, study, regulated life) to gain clarity and spiritual strength.