Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 5
Brahmā’s Boons, Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Cosmic Tyranny, and Prahlāda’s Transcendental Qualities
स विजित्य दिश: सर्वा लोकांश्च त्रीन् महासुर: । देवासुरमनुष्येन्द्रगन्धर्वगरुडोरगान् ॥ ५ ॥ सिद्धचारणविद्याध्रानृषीन् पितृपतीन्मनून् । यक्षरक्ष:पिशाचेशान् प्रेतभूतपतीनपि ॥ ६ ॥ सर्वसत्त्वपतीञ्जित्वा वशमानीय विश्वजित् । जहार लोकपालानां स्थानानि सह तेजसा ॥ ७ ॥
sa vijitya diśaḥ sarvā lokāṁś ca trīn mahāsuraḥ devāsura-manuṣyendra- gandharva-garuḍoragān
Đại asura Hiraṇyakaśipu chinh phục mọi phương và chiếm lĩnh các cõi trong ba thế giới. Hắn khuất phục chư thiên, asura, các vua loài người, Gandharva, Garuḍa, đại xà, các Siddha, Cāraṇa, Vidyādhara, các bậc ṛṣi, Yama—chủ tể của Pitṛ, các Manu, Yakṣa, Rākṣasa, các chúa Piśāca, cùng các chủ của preta và bhūta. Sau khi đánh bại các bậc chủ quản của mọi loài hữu tình và bắt họ quy phục, kẻ chinh phục vũ trụ ấy đã đoạt lấy ngôi vị của các Lokapāla cùng uy quang quyền lực của họ.
The word garuḍa in this verse indicates that there are planets of great birds like Garuḍa. Similarly, the word uraga indicates that there are planets of enormous serpents. Such a description of the various planets of the universe may challenge modern scientists who think that all planets but this earth are vacant. These scientists claim to have launched excursions to the moon, where they have found no living entities but only big craters full of dust and stone, although in fact the moon is so brilliant that it acts like the sun in illuminating the entire universe. Of course, it is not possible to convince modern scientists of the Vedic information about the universe. Nonetheless, we are not very much impressed by the words of scientists who say that all other planets are vacant and that only the earth is full of living entities.
FAQs
This verse states that Hiraṇyakaśipu conquered all directions and the three worlds, bringing even powerful beings—demigod leaders, human rulers, Gandharvas, Garuḍa, and serpents—under his control.
Garuḍa is emblematic of immense celestial power; mentioning him highlights the extent of Hiraṇyakaśipu’s dominance over formidable beings across the universe.
It cautions that material power can expand dramatically yet remain spiritually barren; devotees should seek shelter of Bhagavān rather than be impressed by domination and worldly conquest.