Chapter 17 – The Birth of Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu – Hiraṇyākṣa’s Victories
Maitreya said:
- Hearing from the self-born Brahmā the cause of their fear, all the devatā’s regained their peace of mind and joyfully returned to Svarga, trusting in Śrī Viṣṇu’s protection.
- But Diti, remembering the words of her husband and the prophecy of calamity, lived in anxious fear of the children she would bear. After a hundred years had passed, she gave birth to twin sons.
- At their birth, dreadful and inauspicious signs appeared in all quarters—on earth, in the skies, and in the heavens—foretelling the sorrows these children would bring to the world.
- The earth shook violently, mountains trembled, the directions blazed with fire, meteors fell, thunders roared, and terrifying comets glowed in the sky.
- Fierce storm winds swept across the heavens, howling like armies of demons. They uprooted trees and raised vast banners of dust, striking fear into every heart.
- The stars and planets disappeared, hidden by dark clouds that flashed with frightening laughter-like lightning. The whole world was covered in an impenetrable shroud of darkness.
- The ocean surged and roared as if in anguish, shaken even in its depths. Rivers and lakes were disturbed, and lotuses withered away as if grieving.
- The Sun and Moon were eclipsed again and again by Rāhu, surrounded by misty halos. Terrible sounds, like thundering chariots, issued from the mountains, though no warriors were there.
- Female jackals howled with fiery mouths, their cries joined by the fearful wails of jackals and the ominous hooting of owls.
- Dogs raised their heads and barked in strange, piercing tones, some crying, some wailing, filling the night with terror.
- Herds of donkeys, frenzied and maddened, ran wild, striking the earth with their hooves and braying harshly.
- Birds, terrified by this tumult, shrieked and fled their nests. Animals in the forests and in their pens lost control of their bodies in fright.
- Cows shed blood from their udders, clouds rained pus, idols of the deities wept tears, and trees were uprooted without a breath of wind.
- Malefic planets crossed into the paths of the beneficent ones, clashing in crooked and hostile courses, as if the very heavens had gone to war.
- Seeing these dreadful omens, people everywhere trembled in fear, thinking that the destruction of the universe was at hand. Only the sons of Brahmā, the pure-hearted sages, remained calm, knowing the divine will behind it all.
- The two Asura infants, their bodies as hard as mountains of stone, grew quickly to gigantic size, displaying their natural demonic strength.
- Their golden crowns touched the skies, their mighty arms stretched across the directions adorned with glittering ornaments, their steps shook the earth, and their girdles shone brighter than the Sun itself.
- Prajāpati Kāśyapa named them—Hiraṇyakaśipu, the elder born of his body, and Hiraṇyākṣa, the other, though first born from Diti’s womb.
- Hiraṇyakaśipu, protected by the boon of Brahmā, grew intoxicated with pride. He subdued the worlds and even their guardians, relying on the might of his arms and his arrogance of power.
- Yet in his heart he cherished his younger brother Hiraṇyākṣa, who daily thirsted for battle. Armed with a mighty mace, Hiraṇyākṣa stormed toward Svarga in search of war.
Special Note : Hiraṇyakaśipu performed severe austerities to please Lord Brahmā, and when Brahmā appeared, he asked for a boon that would make him practically invincible. Brahmā, being a jīva (not the Supreme), could not grant immortality. So Hiraṇyakaśipu asked for a cleverly worded boon, covering every possibility of death. The essence of the boon was:
– He would not be killed by any being created by Brahmā.
– He would not meet death inside or outside, by day or by night.
– He would not be slain on earth, in the sky, or in the water.
– He would not be killed by any weapon, nor by any human, animal, or demigod.
– He would not be killed by any entity, living or non-living.
– He would not be killed in any dwelling.
– He would not be defeated by any army.
Confident that he had covered every circumstance, Hiraṇyakaśipu felt invincible and became drunk with pride, tormenting the universe.
The beauty of Bhagavān’s play (līlā) is seen when He incarnated as Śrī Narasiṁhadeva, who was:
- Neither man nor beast, but a unique form (half-man, half-lion).
- Appeared at twilight (neither day nor night).
- Killed Hiraṇyakaśipu on the threshold (neither inside nor outside).
- Placed him on His lap (neither earth, sky, nor water).
- Tore him apart with His nails (not a weapon).
Thus, Bhagavān fulfilled Brahmā’s boon while still protecting His devotee Prahlāda.
21-22. Seeing him rush forward with unstoppable force, his golden anklets ringing, his body adorned with the Vaijayantī garland, his massive mace upon his shoulder, proud in the strength of his body and his boons, the Devā’s trembled. Unable to face him, they fled and hid themselves like serpents fleeing before Garuḍa.
- When the Daitya king saw that Indra and the Devā’s had vanished, unwilling to face his dreadful power, he roared aloud in triumph, shaking the worlds.
- Then, turning away from Svarga, Hiraṇyākṣa, intoxicated with might, plunged into the roaring ocean, as an elephant enters a lake for play.
- At his entrance, the soldiers of Varuṇa—the hosts of aquatic creatures—were struck with terror. Without even being attacked, they fled in fear, overwhelmed by his fierce radiance.
- For many years, the mighty Asura wandered the ocean, striking the swelling waves with his iron mace, his heavy breath raising storms upon the waters, until at last he reached the city of Varuṇa, Deity of the waters.
- Smiling arrogantly and mocking him with a bow, Hiraṇyākṣa addressed Varuṇa: “O King, ruler of the seas, grant me a worthy fight!”
- “Surely you are the protector of the worlds, the conqueror of proud warriors. Have you not subdued the Daityas and Dānavas and performed the great Rājasūya sacrifice in glory? Come, show your strength!”
- Thus insulted by the haughty Asura, the glorious Varuṇa, master of the oceans, controlled his anger with noble wisdom.
- He replied: “O leader of Asuras, there is but One who is your true match—the Primeval Bhagavān Himself. Only He, the eternal warrior, can bring satisfaction to your thirst for battle.”
- “He descends in various forms, O mighty one, to crush the wicked and protect the innocent. Seek Him out, and your pride will be destroyed. Upon the battlefield you will meet your death at His hands, and lie fallen among warriors, your arrogance cut down by the Supreme Bhagavān’s hand of justice.”
Thus ends the seventeenth discourse entitled “The Birth of Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu—Hiraṇyākṣa’s Victories”, in Book Three of the great and glorious Bhāgavata Purāṇa, otherwise known as the Paramahaṁsa-Saṁhitā (the book of the God-realized Souls).
Summarization Of The Entire Chapter :
After hearing from Brahmā about the cause of their fear, the devatās regained their peace of mind, placing their trust in the all-protecting lotus feet of Śrī Viṣṇu. They returned to Svarga, reassured that no calamity could harm them so long as the Supreme Bhagavān was their shelter. But Diti, the mother of the unborn twins, lived in anxious fear, remembering the prophecy of her husband Kāśyapa. When, after a hundred years, she gave birth, the world trembled with dreadful omens, for these children were destined to bring sorrow to all beings.
Terrifying signs appeared everywhere—the heavens flashed with comets and meteors, the mountains trembled, the oceans roared, and fierce winds carried dust and darkness across the skies. Animals wailed, birds shrieked, and sacred idols wept tears. The Sun and Moon were eclipsed again and again by Rāhu, and even cows shed blood from their udders. All beings trembled in fear, believing the destruction of the universe was near. Yet, amidst this chaos, the sages remained serene, knowing all was under the supreme will of Bhagavān.
The two Asura children grew at astonishing speed, their bodies as hard as mountains, their crowns touching the sky, their arms spanning the directions, and their ornaments shining with blinding radiance. Kāśyapa named them Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyākṣa. The elder, Hiraṇyakaśipu, intoxicated by the boon granted by Brahmā, subdued the worlds and their guardians, his heart swollen with pride. Yet he deeply cherished his younger brother Hiraṇyākṣa, who constantly thirsted for battle and carried his mighty mace with arrogance.
When Hiraṇyākṣa stormed toward Svarga, his massive form shining with golden ornaments, his anklets ringing like thunder, the Devatās trembled. Unable to resist his dreadful might, they fled in fear, hiding themselves like serpents before Garuḍa. Roaring in triumph at their retreat, the Asura turned away from Svarga and plunged into the vast ocean, like a mighty elephant entering a lake. His very presence terrified the hosts of Varuṇa, who fled without resistance.
For many years, Hiraṇyākṣa wandered the ocean, churning the waves with his mace and breath, until at last he reached the abode of Varuṇa, the king of waters. With mocking arrogance, he challenged him to battle. But noble Varuṇa, mastering his anger, replied with wisdom: “O mighty Asura, I am not your match. There is only One who can satisfy your thirst for combat—the Supreme Bhagavān, the eternal warrior who descends to destroy the wicked and protect the righteous. Seek Him, for only He can shatter your pride. Upon meeting Him, your arrogance will be crushed, and you will fall upon the battlefield at His lotus hands.”
Thus, the stage was set by the will of Bhagavān for the meeting between the Asura’s swollen pride and the divine justice of the Supreme Lord. In this way, the Bhāgavata shows us that even the mightiest enemies of dharma are but instruments of Bhagavān’s eternal leelā, through which His glories shine ever brighter and His devotees’ hearts are drawn deeper into love and surrender at His lotus feet.
Short Questions & Answers :
Q1. After the devas heard Brahmā explain the cause of their fear, what did they do?
A1. They regained peace of mind, trusted in Śrī Viṣṇu’s protection, and joyfully returned to Svarga.
Q2. How did Diti feel while carrying the children in her womb?
A2. She lived in constant fear and anxiety, remembering Kaśyapa’s prophecy that her children would cause calamity.
Q3. What happened when the twins were born?
A3. Dreadful and inauspicious omens appeared across the earth, heavens, and skies—signs of the destruction they would bring.
Q4. What were some of the terrible signs seen at their birth?
A4. The earth shook, mountains trembled, comets blazed, fierce winds roared, rivers were disturbed, lotuses withered, the sun and moon were eclipsed, animals howled in fear, cows shed blood, idols wept, and trees fell without wind.
Q5. How did the people react to these omens?
A5. People trembled in fear, thinking the end of the universe had arrived—only the pure-hearted sages, knowing the divine will, remained undisturbed.
Q6. How did the two Asura infants grow?
A6. Their bodies were hard like mountains, they grew to gigantic size with golden crowns touching the sky, mighty arms spanning the directions, and ornaments that shone like the Sun.
Q7. What names did Prajāpati Kaśyapa give the twins?
A7. The elder was named Hiraṇyakaśipu, and the younger, though first from the womb, was named Hiraṇyākṣa.
Q8. What qualities defined Hiraṇyakaśipu?
A8. Protected by Brahmā’s boon, he grew intoxicated with power, subdued the worlds and their guardians, and ruled with arrogance—though he loved his younger brother dearly.
Q9. What qualities defined Hiraṇyākṣa?
A9. He was ever eager for battle, strong, armed with a massive mace, and restless to challenge the devas and warriors of the worlds.
Q10. What did the devas do when Hiraṇyākṣa, adorned with ornaments and armed with his mace, came rushing toward them?
A10. Terrified and unable to face him, they fled and hid, just as serpents flee before Garuḍa.
Q11. How did Hiraṇyākṣa react when the devas vanished?
A11. He roared in triumph, shaking the worlds with his pride, then turned away from Svarga and plunged into the ocean.
Q12. How did the oceanic beings respond to Hiraṇyākṣa’s entrance?
A12. The hosts of Varuṇa, frightened by his fierce radiance, fled in terror even without being attacked.
Q13. What did Hiraṇyākṣa do for many years in the ocean?
A13. He wandered, striking the waves with his mace, raising storms with his breath, until he reached the city of Varuṇa.
Q14. How did Hiraṇyākṣa address Varuṇa?
A14. Mocking him, he challenged Varuṇa to battle, praising his past victories and sacrifices, and demanding a worthy fight.
Q15. How did Varuṇa respond to Hiraṇyākṣa’s arrogant challenge?
A15. Controlling his anger, Varuṇa replied wisely that only the Primeval Bhagavān, the eternal warrior, could truly match him and end his pride.
Q16. What final prophecy did Varuṇa give Hiraṇyākṣa?
A16. He told him that Bhagavān descends to crush the wicked and protect the innocent, and that Hiraṇyākṣa would meet his death at Bhagavān’s hands on the battlefield, his arrogance destroyed by the Supreme Lord.
