SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 7

S'rî Nârada said: 'Hiranyakas'ipu, o King, desired to become unconquerable, free from old age and immortal himself, the only king with no rivals or opponents.

Nârada Muni said to Mahârâja Yudhishthhira: The demoniac king Hiranyakas'ipu wanted to be unconquerable and free from old age and dwindling of the body. He wanted to gain all the yogic perfections like animâ and laghimâ, to be deathless, and to be the only king of the entire universe, including Brahmaloka. (Vedabase)

Text 2

In a valley at Mandara Hill he performed a most difficult austerity raising his arms upwards staring into the sky, standing with the big toes of his feet on the ground.

In the valley of Mandara Hill, Hiranyakas'ipu began performing his austerities by standing with his toes on the ground, keeping his arms upward and looking toward the sky. This position was extremely difficult, but he accepted it as a means to attain perfection. (Vedabase)

Text 3

Emanating from the hair on his head there was a light bright as a supernova and by the beams were all the gods in their practices of penance driven back to their own places.

From the hair on Hiranyakas'ipu's head there emanated an effulgent light as brilliant and intolerable as the rays of the sun at the time of dissolution. Seeing the performance of such austere penances, the demigods, who had been wandering throughout the planets, now returned to their respective homes. (Vedabase)

Text 4

Generated by his severe penance with smoke spreading sidewards, upwards and downwards everywhere, heated it all the worlds.

Because of Hiranyakas'ipu's severe austerities, fire came from his head, and this fire and its smoke spread throughout the sky, encompassing the upper and lower planets, which all became extremely hot. (Vedabase)

Text 5

The rivers and oceans were in turmoil, the islands and mountains and the earth shook and the stars with their planets fell with all the ten directions ablaze.

Because of the power of his severe austerities, all the rivers and oceans were agitated, the surface of the globe, with its mountains and islands, began trembling, and the stars and planets fell. All directions were ablaze. (Vedabase)

Text 6

Scorched therefrom gave the demigods their residences up and went they to Lord Brahmâ's place to submit to their leader: 'O Master of the Universe from the penance of the daitya king are we all afflicted and no longer capable of keeping our positions in heaven.

Scorched and extremely disturbed because of Hiranyakas'ipu's severe penances, all the demigods left the planets where they reside and went to the planet of Lord Brahmâ, where they informed the creator as follows: O lord of the demigods, O master of the universe, because of the fire emanating from Hiranyakas'ipu's head as a result of his severe austerities, we have become so disturbed that we could not stay in our planets but have come to you. (Vedabase)

Text 7

Please, if you think it's right, we would like to see the end of this, o Great One, before all obedient to the worship of you o Chief of All are lost.

O great person, chief of the universe, if you think it proper, kindly stop these disturbances, meant to destroy everything, before all your obedient subjects are annihilated. (Vedabase)

Text 8

Take notice of this intention of him executing the so very difficult austerity; what wouldn't be known to you - but nevertheless we would like to submit this:

Hiranyakas'ipu has undertaken a most severe type of austerity. Although his plan is not unknown to you, kindly listen as we submit his intentions. (Vedabase)

Text 9-10

'Lord Brahmâ, who by austerity absorbed in yoga created the moving and unmoving [see 3.8], has his throne in all the worlds high and low and thus will I by dint of an even more severe penance absorbed in yoga, from the eternality of time and the soul, achieve just as much for myself.

"The supreme person within this universe, Lord Brahmâ, has gotten his exalted post by dint of severe austerities, mystic power and trance. Consequently, after creating the universe, he has become the most worshipable demigod within it. Since I am eternal and time is eternal, I shall endeavor for such austerity, mystic power and trance for many, many births, and thus I shall occupy the same post occupied by Lord Brahmâ. (Vedabase)

Text 11

I shall by my strength turn this world upside down reinstating what is now called inappropriate; what is the use of all those other practices of the followers of Vishnu, in the end they'll all be vanquished.'

"By dint of my severe austerities, I shall reverse the results of pious and impious activities. I shall overturn all the established practices within this world. Even Dhruvaloka will be vanquished at the end of the millennium. Therefore, what is the use of it? I shall prefer to remain in the position of Brahma." (Vedabase)

Text 12

This way so we learned was his determination from within his excessive penance; please take for your own sake as soon as possible the necessary steps, o master of the three worlds.

O lord, we have heard from reliable sources that in order to obtain your post, Hiranyakas'ipu is now engaged in severe austerity. You are the master of the three worlds. Please, without delay, take whatever steps you deem appropriate. (Vedabase)

Text 13

It is your position to be the supreme master in the universe for the better and exalted of the twice born and the cows, the salvation and opulence, the welfare and the victory.

O Lord Brahmâ, your position within this universe is certainly most auspicious for everyone, especially the cows and brâhmanas. Brahminical culture and the protection of cows can be increasingly glorified, and thus all kinds of material happiness, opulence and good fortune will automatically increase. But unfortunately, if Hiranyakas'ipu occupies your seat, everything will be lost. (Vedabase)

Text 14

Thus informed by the godly went the most powerful one born from the lotus, o King, in the company of Bhrigu, Daksha and others to the place of penance of the daitya lord.

O King, being thus informed by the demigods, the most powerful Lord Brahmâ, accompanied by Bhrigu, Daksha and other great sages, immediately started for the place where Hiranyakas'ipu was performing his penances and austerities. (Vedabase)

Text 15-16:

Covered by an anthill, grass and bamboo, with his fat, skin, flesh and blood eaten away by the ants, could he not be spotted, but he who rides the swan smiled with wonder when he saw how by his penance the heating of all the worlds was being covered like the sun is by clouds.

Lord Brahmâ, who is carried by a swan airplane, at first could not see where Hiranyakas'ipu was, for Hiranyakas'ipu's body was covered by an anthill and by grass and bamboo sticks. Because Hiranyakas'ipu had been there for a long time, the ants had devoured his skin, fat, flesh and blood. Then Lord Brahmâ and the demigods spotted him, resembling a cloud-covered sun, heating all the world by his austerity. Struck with wonder, Lord Brahmâ began to smile and then addressed him as follows. (Vedabase)

Text 17

S'rî Brahmâ said: 'Please come forward, come forward, o son of Kas'yapa, all good fortune to you so perfect in your penance, I, the granter of boons have come, let what you desire from me be my blessing.

Lord Brahmâ said: O son of Kas'yapa Muni, please get up, please get up. All good fortune unto you. You are now perfect in the performance of your austerities, and therefore I may give you a benediction. You may now ask from me whatever you desire, and I shall try to fulfill your wish. (Vedabase)

Text 18:

I've personally seen how great your power of endurance is and how wonderful it is that someone whose body is eaten away by worms and ants has managed to keep his life-air within his bones.

I have been very much astonished to see your endurance. In spite of being eaten and bitten by all kinds of worms and ants, you are keeping your life air circulating within your bones. Certainly this is wonderful. (Vedabase)

Text 19:

There was nothing like it performed by the sages before you, nor will anyone else do so hereafter; who indeed without taking water can sustain his life-air for a hundred celestial years [36.000 years]?

Even saintly persons like Bhrigu, born previously, could not perform such severe austerities, nor will anyone in the future be able to do so. Who within these three worlds can sustain his life without even drinking water for one hundred celestial years? (Vedabase)

Text 20:

O son of Diti, by your resolve to perform a penance that is even for the greatest of saints very hard, have I been conquered by you.

My dear son of Diti, with your great determination and austerity you have done what was impossible even for great saintly persons, and thus I have certainly been conquered by you. (Vedabase)

Text 21:

For this I shall give you all benedictions, o best of the Asuras, the audience of someone destined to die like you with an immortal like me will not be fruitless.'

O best of the Asuras, for this reason I am now prepared to give you all benedictions, according to your desire. I belong to the celestial world of demigods, who do not die like human beings. Therefore, although you are subject to death, your audience with me will not go in vain. (Vedabase)

Text 22:

S'rî Nârada said: 'Thus speaking did the original godhead and first living being of the universe sprinkle divine, allpotent and infallible water from his kamandalu [waterpot] over the by the ants eaten body.

S'rî Nârada Muni continued: After speaking these words to Hiranyakas'ipu, Lord Brahmâ, the original being of this universe, who is extremely powerful, sprinkled transcendental, infallible, spiritual water from his kamandalu upon Hiranyakas'ipu's body, which had been eaten away by ants and moths. Thus he enlivened Hiranyakas'ipu. (Vedabase)

Text 23:

From that was he, from his anthill and bamboos, fully restored to mind, senses and strength in all his limbs; he arose, like fire springing from fire wood, with a young body as strong as a thunderbolt that had a luster of molten gold.

As soon as he was sprinkled with the water from Lord Brahmâ's waterpot, Hiranyakas'ipu arose, endowed with a full body with limbs so strong that they could bear the striking of a thunderbolt. With physical strength and a bodily luster resembling molten gold, he emerged from the anthill a completely young man, just as fire springs from fuel wood. (Vedabase)

Text 24:

When he saw the god right before him in the sky on his swan carrier offered he, very pleased to meet Lord Brahmâ, with his head to the ground his obeisances [compare B.G. 9: 23-24 en 2.3: 10 ].

Seeing Lord Brahmâ present before him in the sky, carried by his swan airplane, Hiranyakas'ipu was extremely pleased. He immediately fell flat with his head on the ground and began to express his obligation to the lord. (Vedabase)

Text 25:

Rising to his feet with his own eyes seeing the Almighty began he, overwhelmed by jubilation, with tears in his eyes and his hair standing on end with folded hands and a faltering voice humbly to pray.

Then, getting up from the ground and seeing Lord Brahmâ before him, the head of the Daityas was overwhelmed by jubilation. With tears in his eyes, his whole body shivering, he began praying in a humble mood, with folded hands and a faltering voice, to satisfy Lord Brahmâ. (Vedabase)

Text 26-27:

S'rî Hiranyakas'ipu said: 'At the end of his day when he under the influence of time is covered by the dense darkness of ignorance, is by the self-effulgence of the rays of his body this cosmic creation manifested. This world is by himself and conducted by the three modes of rajas, sattva and tamas [passion, goodness and ignorance], created, maintained and annihilated. My respectful obeisances unto that transcendental and Supreme Lord.

Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the supreme lord within this universe. At the end of each day of his life, the universe is fully covered with dense darkness by the influence of time, and then again, during his next day, that self-effulgent lord, by his own effulgence, manifests, maintains and destroys the entire cosmic manifestation through the material energy, which is invested with the three modes of material nature. He, Lord Brahmâ, is the shelter of those modes of nature--sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna. (Vedabase)

Text 28:

My reverential homage unto the original living being, the seed of creation, knowledge and wisdom; unto the deity of the life force, the senses, the mind and the intelligence, who through his works realized the manifestation.

I offer my obeisances to the original personality within this universe, Lord Brahmâ, who is cognizant and who can apply his mind and realized intelligence in creating this cosmic manifestation. It is because of his activities that everything within the universe is visible. He is therefore the cause of all manifestations. (Vedabase)

Text 29:

You are the factual control of the moving beings and the immobile entities; by the life force are you the source of all activities and the master mind and source of insight of all alive; the great master of the knowing and acting senses you are, the controller of all desire, the material elements and their qualities [compare B.G. 7: 7].

Your Lordship, being the origin of the life of this material world, is the master and controller of the living entities, both moving and stationary, and you inspire their consciousness. You maintain the mind and the acting and knowledge-acquiring senses, and therefore you are the great controller of all the material elements and their qualities, and you are the controller of all desires. (Vedabase)

Text 30:

By your body of the three Vedas you spread the seven kinds of rituals [beginning from the agnishthoma-yajña] of the four kinds of priests [known as hotâ, adhvaryu, brahma and udgâtâ] and the knowledge required; you are the one soul of all living entities without a beginning and an end; the supreme inspirator and the True Self within.

My dear lord, by your form as the Vedas personified and through knowledge relating to the activities of all the yajñic brâhmanas, you spread the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies of the seven kinds of sacrifices, headed by agnishthoma. Indeed, you inspire the yajñic brâhmanas to perform the rituals mentioned in the three Vedas. Being the Supreme Soul, the Supersoul of all living entities, you are beginningless, endless and omniscient, beyond the limits of time and space. (Vedabase)

Text 31:

Without being affected by it yourself are you verily the Time ever wakeful, that reduces the duration of life of all beings with each of its segments; of this material world are you the Great Self and Supreme Controller unborn as well as the essential cause of life.

O my lord, Your Lordship is eternally awake, seeing everything that happens. As eternal time, you reduce the duration of life for all living entities through your different parts, such as moments, seconds, minutes and hours. Nonetheless, you are unchanged, resting in one place as the Supersoul, witness and Supreme Lord, the birthless, all-pervading controller who is the cause of life for all living entities. (Vedabase)

Text 32:

Nothing exists separate from you, whether it is higher evolved or even lower, moving or not-moving, while the knowledge in all its divisions makes up the different features of your body; you are the one greater than the greatest, transcendental to the three modes, who keeps the universe in his abdomen.

There is nothing separate from you, whether it be better or lower, stationary or moving. The knowledge derived from the Vedic literatures like the Upanishads, and from all the sub-limbs of the original Vedic knowledge, form your external body. You are Hiranyagarbha, the reservoir of the universe, but nonetheless, being situated as the supreme controller, you are transcendental to the material world, which consists of the three modes of material nature. (Vedabase)

Text 33:

Situated in your abode unseen you enjoy, as the Supreme One, the Soul and oldest person the manifested, o Almighty, this cosmic manifestation that is the external of you from which we have the senses, the life-air, the mind and the qualities.

O my lord, being changelessly situated in your own abode, you expand your universal form within this cosmic manifestation, thus appearing to taste the material world. You are Brahman, the Supersoul, the oldest, the Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)

Text 34:

By this unlimited, unimaginable form of you there is the totality of this aggregate expanded with its material and spiritual potency; unto him thus endowed, unto him that Supreme Master of God, I offer my obeisances.

Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme, who in his unlimited, unmanifested form has expanded the cosmic manifestation, the form of the totality of the universe. He possesses external and internal energies and the mixed energy called the marginal potency, which consists of all the living entities. (Vedabase)

Text 35:

If you are willing to give me the boon of my desire, o granter of all benedictions, then, o my Lord, let it be so that from none of the beings created by you I will meet death.

O my lord, O best of the givers of benediction, if you will kindly grant me the benediction I desire, please let me not meet death from any of the living entities created by you. (Vedabase)

Text 36:

Not at home nor outside, not during the day nor at night, nor from any other god even or by any known weapon, nor on the ground nor in the sky may I die, nor from any human or animal.

Grant me that I not die within any residence or outside any residence, during the daytime or at night, nor on the ground or in the sky. Grant me that my death not be brought by any being other than those created by you, nor by any weapon, nor by any human being or animal. (Vedabase)

Text 37-38:

Lifeless things nor living entities, demigod nor demon and the great serpents either may kill me; I must have no rivals, have the supremacy in battle and the rule over all embodied including the deities of all planets; mine must be the glory equal to yours and never may the powers acquired by yogic penance be defeated.'

Grant me that I not meet death from any entity, living or nonliving. Grant me, further, that I not be killed by any demigod or demon or by any great snake from the lower planets. Since no one can kill you in the battlefield, you have no competitor. Therefore, grant me the benediction that I too may have no rival. Give me sole lordship over all the living entities and presiding deities, and give me all the glories obtained by that position. Furthermore, give me all the mystic powers attained by long austerities and the practice of yoga, for these cannot be lost at any time. (Vedabase)