Victory of Hiranyaksa Over All the Directions of the Universe

3.17.1

maitreya uvaca

nisamyatma-bhuva gitam

karanam sankayojjhitah

tatah sarve nyavartanta

tridivaya divaukasah

SYNONYMS

maitreyah—the sage Maitreya; uvaca—said; nisamya—upon hearing; atma-bhuva—by Brahma; gitam—explanation; karanam—the cause; sankaya—from fear; ujjhitah—freed; tatah—then; sarve—all; nyavartanta—returned; tri-divaya—to the heavenly planes; diva-okasah—the demigods (who inhabit the higher planes).

TRANSLATION

Sri Maitreya said: The demigods, the inhabitants of the higher planes, were freed from all fear upon hearing the cause of the darkness explained by Brahma, who was born from Visnu.

Thus they all returned to their respective planes.

PURPORT

The demigods, who are denizens of higher planes, are also very much afraid of incidents such as the universe’s becoming dark, and so they consulted Brahma.

This indicates that the quality of fear exists for every living entity in the material world.

The four principal activities of material existence are eating, sleeping, fearing and mating.

The fear element exists also in the demigods.

On every plane, even in the higher planeary systems, including the moon and the sun, as well as on this earth, the same principles of animal life exist.

Otherwise, why are the demigods also afraid of the darkness? The difference between the demigods and ordinary human beings is that the demigods approach authority, whereas the inhabitants of this earth defy authority.

If people would only approach the authority, then every adverse condition in this universe could be rectified.

Arjuna was also disturbed on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, but he approached the authority, Krsna, and his problem was solved.

The conclusive instruction of this incident is that we may be disturbed by some material condition, but if we approach the authority who can actually explain the matter, then our problem is solved.

The demigods approached Brahma for the meaning of the disturbance, and after hearing from him they were satisfied and returned home peacefully.

3.17.2

ditis tu bhartur adesad

apatya-parisankini

purne varsa-sate sadhvi

putrau prasusuve yamau

SYNONYMS

ditih—Diti; tu—but; bhartuh—of her husband; adesat—by the order; apatya—from her children; parisankini—being apprehensive of trouble; purne—full; varsa-sate—after one hundred years; sadhvi—the virtuous lady; putrau—two sons; prasusuve—begot; yamau—twins.

TRANSLATION

The virtuous lady Diti had been very apprehensive of trouble to the gods from the children in her womb, and her husband predicted the same.

She brought forth twin sons after a full one hundred years of pregnancy.

3.17.3

utpata bahavas tatra

nipetur jayamanayoh

divi bhuvy antarikse ca

lokasyoru-bhayavahah

SYNONYMS

utpatah—natural disturbances; bahavah—many; tatra—there; nipetuh—occurred; jayamanayoh—on their birth; divi—in the heavenly planes; bhuvi—on the earth; antarikse—in outer space; ca—and; lokasya—to the world; uru—greatly; bhaya-avahah—causing fear.

TRANSLATION

On the birth of the two demons there were many natural disturbances, all very fearful and wonderful, in the heavenly planes, the earthly planes and in between them.

3.17.4

sahacala bhuvas celur

disah sarvah prajajvaluh

solkas casanayah petuh

ketavas carti-hetavah

SYNONYMS

saha—along with; acalah—the mountains; bhuvah—of the earth; celuh—shook; disah—directions; sarvah—all; prajajvaluh—blazed like fire; sa—with; ulkah—meteors; ca—and; asanayah—thunderbolts; petuh—fell; ketavah—comets; ca—and; arti-hetavah—the cause of all inauspiciousness.

TRANSLATION

There were earthquakes along the mountains on the earth, and it appeared that there was fire everywhere.

Many inauspicious planes like Saturn appeared, along with comets, meteors and thunderbolts.

PURPORT

When natural disturbances occur on a plane, one should understand that a demon must have taken birth there.

In the present age the number of demoniac people is increasing; therefore natural disturbances are also increasing.

There is no doubt about this, as we can understand from the statements of the Bhagavatam.

3.17.5

vavau vayuh suduhsparsah

phut-karan irayan muhuh

unmulayan naga-patin

vatyaniko rajo-dhvajah

SYNONYMS

vavau—blew; vayuh—the winds; su-duhsparsah—unpleasant to touch; phut-karan—hissing sounds; irayan—giving out; muhuh—again and again; unmulayan—uprooting; naga-patin—gigantic trees; vatya—cyclonic air; anikah—armies; rajah—dust; dhvajah—ensigns.

TRANSLATION

There blew winds which were most uninviting to the touch, hissing again and again and uprooting gigantic trees.

They had storms for their armies and clouds of dust for their ensigns.

PURPORT

When there are natural disturbances like blowing cyclones, too much heat or snowfall, and uprooting of trees by hurricanes, it is to be understood that the demoniac population is increasing and so the natural disturbance is also taking place.

There are many countries on the globe, even at the present moment, where all these disturbances are current.

This is true all over the world.

There is insufficient sunshine, and there are always clouds in the sky, snowfall and severe cold.

These assure that such places are inhabited by demoniac people who are accustomed to all kinds of forbidden, sinful activity.

3.17.6

uddhasat-tadid-ambhoda-

ghataya nasta-bhagane

vyomni pravista-tamasa

na sma vyadrsyate padam

SYNONYMS

uddhasat—laughing loudly; tadit—lightning; ambhoda—of clouds; ghataya—by masses; nasta—lost; bha-gane—the luminaries; vyomni—in the sky; pravista—enveloped; tamasa—by darkness; na—not; sma vyadrsyate—could be seen; padam—any place.

TRANSLATION

The luminaries in the heavens were screened by masses of clouds, in which lightning sometimes flashed as though laughing.

Darkness reigned everywhere, and nothing could be seen.

3.17.7

cukrosa vimana vardhir

udurmih ksubhitodarah

sodapanas ca saritas

cuksubhuh suska-pankajah

SYNONYMS

cukrosa—wailed aloud; vimanah—stricken with sorrow; vardhih—the ocean; udurmih—high waves; ksubhita—agitated; udarah—the creatures inside; sa-udapanah—with the drinking water of the lakes and the wells; ca—and; saritah—the rivers; cuksubhuh—were agitated; suska—withered; pankajah—lotus flowers.

TRANSLATION

The ocean with its high waves wailed aloud as if stricken with sorrow, and there was a commotion among the creatures inhabiting the ocean.

The rivers and lakes were also agitated, and lotuses withered.

3.17.8

muhuh paridhayo ’bhuvan

sarahvoh sasi-suryayoh

nirghata ratha-nirhrada

vivarebhyah prajajnire

SYNONYMS

muhuh—again and again; paridhayah—misty halos; abhuvan—appeared; sa-rahvoh—during eclipses; sasi—of the moon; suryayoh—of the sun; nirghatah—claps of thunder; ratha-nirhradah—sounds like those of rattling chariots; vivarebhyah—from the mountain caves; prajajnire—were produced.

TRANSLATION

Misty halos appeared around the sun and the moon during solar and lunar eclipses again and again.

Claps of thunder were heard even without clouds, and sounds like those of rattling chariots emerged from the mountain caves.

3.17.9

antar-gramesu mukhato

vamantyo vahnim ulbanam

srgaloluka-tankaraih

pranedur asivam sivah

SYNONYMS

antah—in the interior; gramesu—in the villages; mukhatah—from their mouths; vamantyah—vomiting; vahnim—fire; ulbanam—fearful; srgala—jackals; uluka—owls; tankaraih—with their cries; praneduh—created their respective vibrations; asivam—portentously; sivah—the she-jackals.

TRANSLATION

In the interior of the villages she-jackals yelled portentously, vomiting strong fire from their mouths, and jackals and owls also joined them with their cries.

3.17.10

sangitavad rodanavad

unnamayya sirodharam

vyamuncan vividha vaco

grama-simhas tatas tatah

SYNONYMS

sangita-vat—like singing; rodana-vat—like wailing; unnamayya—raising; sirodharam—the neck; vyamuncan—uttered; vividhah—various; vacah—cries; grama-simhah—the dogs; tatah tatah—here and there.

TRANSLATION

Raising their necks, dogs cried here and there, now in the manner of singing and now of wailing.

3.17.11

kharas ca karkasaih ksattah

khurair ghnanto dhara-talam

kharkara-rabhasa mattah

paryadhavan varuthasah

SYNONYMS

kharah—asses; ca—and; karkasaih—hard; ksattah—O Vidura; khuraih—with their hooves; ghnantah—striking; dhara-talam—the surface of the earth; khah-kara—braying; rabhasah—wildly engaged in; mattah—mad; paryadhavan—ran hither and thither; varuthasah—in herds.

TRANSLATION

O Vidura, the asses ran hither and thither in herds, striking the earth with their hard hooves and wildly braying.

PURPORT

Asses also feel very respectable as a race, and when they run in flocks hither and thither in so-called jollity, it is understood to be a bad sign for human society.

3.17.12

rudanto rasabha-trasta

nidad udapatan khagah

ghose ’ranye ca pasavah

sakrn-mutram akurvata

SYNONYMS

rudantah—shrieking; rasabha—by the asses; trastah—frightened; nidat—from the nest; udapatan—flew up; khagah—birds; ghose—in the cowshed; aranye—in the woods; ca—and; pasavah—the cattle; sakrt—dung; mutram—urine; akurvata—passed.

TRANSLATION

Frightened by the braying of the asses, birds flew shrieking from their nests, while cattle in the cowsheds as well as in the woods passed dung and urine.

3.17.13

gavo ’trasann asrg-dohas

toyadah puya-varsinah

vyarudan deva-lingani

drumah petur vinanilam

SYNONYMS

gavah—the cows; atrasan—were frightened; asrk—blood; dohah—yielding; toyadah—clouds; puya—pus; varsinah—raining; vyarudan—shed tears; deva-lingani—the images of the gods; drumah—trees; petuh—fell down; vina—without; anilam—a blast of wind.

TRANSLATION

Cows, terrified, yielded blood in place of milk, clouds rained pus, the images of the gods in the temples shed tears, and trees fell down without a blast of wind.

3.17.14

grahan punyataman anye

bhaganams capi dipitah

aticerur vakra-gatya

yuyudhus ca parasparam

SYNONYMS

grahan—planes; punya-taman—most auspicious; anye—others (the ominous planes); bha-ganan—luminaries; ca—and; api—also; dipitah—illuminating; aticeruh—overlapped; vakra-gatya—taking retrograde courses; yuyudhuh—came into conflict; ca—and; parah-param—with one another.

TRANSLATION

Ominous planes such as Mars and Saturn shone brighter and surpassed the auspicious ones such as Mercury, Jupiter and Venus as well as a number of lunar mansions.

Taking seemingly retrograde courses, the planes came in conflict with one another.

PURPORT

The entire universe is moving under the three modes of material nature.

Those living entities who are in goodness are called the pious species—pious lands, pious trees, etc.

It is similar with the planes also; many planes are considered pious, and others are considered impious.

Saturn and Mars are considered impious.

When the pious planes shine very brightly, it is an auspicious sign, but when the inauspicious planes shine very brightly, this is not a very good sign.

3.17.15

drstvanyams ca mahotpatan

atat-tattva-vidah prajah

brahma-putran rte bhita

menire visva-samplavam

SYNONYMS

drstva—having seen; anyan—others; ca—and; maha—great; utpatan—evil omens; a-tat-tattva-vidah—not knowing the secret (of the portents); prajah—people; brahma-putran—the sons of Brahma (the four Kumaras); rte—except; bhitah—being fearful; menire—thought; visva-samplavam—the dissolution of the universe.

TRANSLATION

Marking these and many other omens of evil times, everyone but the four sage-sons of Brahma, who were aware of the fall of Jaya and Vijaya and of their birth as Diti’s sons, was seized with fear.

They did not know the secrets of these portents and thought that the dissolution of the universe was at hand.

PURPORT

According to Bhagavad-gita, Seventh Chapter, the laws of nature are so stringent that it is impossible for the living entity to surpass their enforcement.

It is also explained that only those who are fully surrendered to Krsna in Krsna consciousness can be saved.

We can learn from the description of the Srimad-Bhagavatam that it is because of the birth of two great demons that there were so many natural disturbances.

It is to be indirectly understood, as previously described, that when there are constant disturbances on the earth, that is an omen that some demoniac people have been born or that the demoniac population has increased.

In former days there were only two demons—those born of Diti—yet there were so many disturbances.

At the present day, especially in this age of Kali, these disturbances are always visible, which indicates that the demoniac population has certainly increased.

To check the increase of demoniac population, the Vedic civilization enacted so many rules and regulations of social life, the most important of which is the garbhadhana process for begetting good children.

In Bhagavad-gita Arjuna informed Krsna that if there is unwanted population (varna-sankara), the entire world will appear to be hell.

People are very anxious for peace in the world, but there are so many unwanted children born without the benefit of the garbhadhana ceremony, just like the demons born from Diti.

Diti was so lusty that she forced her husband to copulate at a time which was inauspicious, and therefore the demons were born to create disturbances.

In having sex life to beget children, one should observe the process for begetting nice children; if each and every householder in every family observes the Vedic system, then there are nice children, not demons, and automatically there is peace in the world.

If we do not follow regulations in life for social tranquillity, we cannot expect peace.

Rather, we will have to undergo the stringent reactions of natural laws.

3.17.16

tav adi-daityau sahasa

vyajyamanatma-paurusau

vavrdhate ’sma-sarena

kayenadri-pati iva

SYNONYMS

tau—those two; adi-daityau—demons in the beginning of creation; sahasa—quickly; vyajyamana—being manifest; atma—own; paurusau—prowess; vavrdhate—grew; asma-sarena—steellike; kayena—with bodily frames; adri-pati—two great mountains; iva—like.

TRANSLATION

These two demons who appeared in ancient times soon began to exhibit uncommon bodily features; they had steellike frames which began to grow just like two great mountains.

PURPORT

There are two classes of men in the world; one is called the demon, and the other is called the demigod.

The demigods concern themselves with the spiritual upliftment of human society, whereas the demons are concerned with physical and material upliftment.

The two demons born of Diti began to make their bodies as strong as iron frames, and they were so tall that they seemed to touch outer space.

They were decorated with valuable ornaments, and they thought that this was success in life.

Originally it was planned that Jaya and Vijaya, the two doorkeepers of Vaikuntha, were to take birth in this material world, where, by the curse of the sages, they were to play the part of always being angry with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

As demoniac persons, they became so angry that they were not concerned with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but simply with physical comforts and physical upliftment.

3.17.17

divi-sprsau hema-kirita-kotibhir

niruddha-kasthau sphurad-angada-bhujau

gam kampayantau caranaih pade pade

katya sukancyarkam atitya tasthatuh

SYNONYMS

divi-sprsau—touching the sky; hema—golden; kirita—of their helmets; kotibhih—with the crests; niruddha—blocked; kasthau—the directions; sphurat—brilliant; angada—bracelets; bhujau—on whose arms; gam—the earth; kampayantau—shaking; caranaih—with their feet; pade pade—at every step; katya—with their waists; su-kancya—with beautiful decorated belts; arkam—the sun; atitya—surpassing; tasthatuh—they stood.

TRANSLATION

Their bodies became so tall that they seemed to kiss the sky with the crests of their gold crowns.

They blocked the view of all directions and while walking shook the earth at every step.

Their arms were adorned with brilliant bracelets, and they stood as if covering the sun with their waists, which were bound with excellent and beautiful girdles.

PURPORT

In the demoniac way of civilization, people are interested in getting a body constructed in such a way that when they walk on the street the earth will tremble and when they stand it will appear that they cover the sun and the vision of the four directions.

If a race appears strong in body, their country is materially considered to be among the highly advanced nations of the world.

3.17.18

prajapatir nama tayor akarsid

yah prak sva-dehad yamayor ajayata

tam vai hiranyakasipum viduh praja

yam tam hiranyaksam asuta sagratah

SYNONYMS

prajapatih—Kasyapa; nama—names; tayoh—of the two; akarsit—gave; yah—who; prak—first; sva-dehat—from his body; yamayoh—of the twins; ajayata—was delivered; tam—him; vai—indeed; hiranyakasipum—Hiranyakasipu; viduh—know; prajah—people; yam—whom; tam—him; hiranyaksam—Hiranyaksa; asuta—gave birth to; sa—she (Diti); agratah—first.

TRANSLATION

Kasyapa, Prajapati, the creator of the living entities, gave his twin sons their names; the one who was born first he named Hiranyaksa, and the one who was first conceived by Diti he named Hiranyakasipu.

PURPORT

There is an authoritative Vedic literature called Pinda-siddhi in which the scientific understanding of pregnancy is very nicely described.

It is stated that when the male secretion enters the menstrual flux in the uterus in two successive drops, the mother develops two embryos in her womb, and she brings forth twins in a reverse order to that in which they were first conceived; the child conceived first is born later, and the one conceived later is brought forth first.

The first child conceived in the womb lives behind the second child, so when birth takes place the second child appears first, and the first child appears second.

In this case it is understood that Hiranyaksa, the second child conceived, was delivered first, whereas Hiranyakasipu, the child who was behind him, having been conceived first, was born second.

3.17.19

cakre hiranyakasipur

dorbhyam brahma-varena ca

vase sa-palal lokams trin

akuto-mrtyur uddhatah

SYNONYMS

cakre—made; hiranyakasipuh—Hiranyakasipu; dorbhyam—by his two arms; brahma-varena—by the benediction of Brahma; ca—and; vase—under his control; sa-palan—along with their protectors; lokan—the worlds; trin—three; akutah-mrtyuh—fearing death from no one; uddhatah—puffed up.

TRANSLATION

The elder child, Hiranyakasipu, was unafraid of death from anyone within the three worlds because he received a benediction from Lord Brahma.

He was proud and puffed up due to this benediction and was able to bring all three planeary systems under his control.

PURPORT

As will be revealed in later chapters, Hiranyakasipu underwent severe austerity and penance to satisfy Brahma and thus receive a benediction of immortality.

Actually, it is impossible even for Lord Brahma to give anyone the benediction of becoming immortal, but indirectly Hiranyakasipu 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 Vaikuntha, 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 Hiranyakasipu, 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 Hiranyakasipu 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.

3.17.20

hiranyakso ’nujas tasya

priyah priti-krd anvaham

gada-panir divam yato

yuyutsur mrgayan ranam

SYNONYMS

hiranyaksah—Hiranyaksa; anujah—younger brother; tasya—his; priyah—beloved; priti-krt—ready to please; anu-aham—every day; gada-panih—with a club in hand; divam—to the higher planes; yatah—traveled; yuyutsuh—desirous to fight; mrgayan—seeking; ranam—combat.

TRANSLATION

His younger brother, Hiranyaksa, was always ready to satisfy his elder brother by his activities.

Hiranyaksa took a club on his shoulder and traveled all over the universe with a fighting spirit just to satisfy Hiranyakasipu.

PURPORT

The demoniac spirit is to train all family members to exploit the resources of this universe for personal sense gratification, whereas the godly spirit is to engage everything in the service of the Lord.

Hiranyakasipu was himself very powerful, and he made his younger brother, Hiranyaksa, powerful to assist him in fighting with everyone and lording it over material nature as long as possible.

If possible, he wanted to rule the universe eternally.

These are demonstrations of the spirit of the demoniac living entity.

3.17.21

tam viksya duhsaha-javam

ranat-kancana-nupuram

vaijayantya sraja justam

amsa-nyasta-maha-gadam

SYNONYMS

tam—him; viksya—having seen; duhsaha—difficult to control; javam—temper; ranat—tinkling; kancana—gold; nupuram—anklets; vaijayantya sraja—with a vaijayanti garland; justam—adorned; amsa—on his shoulder; nyasta—rested; maha-gadam—a huge mace.

TRANSLATION

Hiranyaksa’s temper was difficult to control.

He had anklets of gold tinkling about his feet, he was adorned with a gigantic garland, and he rested his huge mace on one of his shoulders.

3.17.22

mano-virya-varotsiktam

asrnyam akuto-bhayam

bhita nililyire devas

tarksya-trasta ivahayah

SYNONYMS

manah-virya—by mental and bodily strength; vara—by the boon; utsiktam—proud; asrnyam—not able to be checked; akutah-bhayam—fearing no one; bhitah—frightened; nililyire—hid themselves; devah—the demigods; tarksya—Garuda; trastah—frightened of; iva—like; ahayah—snakes.

TRANSLATION

His mental and bodily strength as well as the boon conferred upon him had made him proud.

He feared death at the hands of no one, and there was no checking him.

The gods, therefore, were seized with fear at his very sight, and they hid themselves even as snakes hide themselves for fear of Garuda.

PURPORT

The asuras are generally strongly built, as described here, and therefore their mental condition is very sound, and their prowess is also extraordinary.

Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu, having received the boon that they would not be killed by any other living entity within this universe, were almost immortal, and thus they were completely fearless.

3.17.23

sa vai tirohitan drstva

mahasa svena daitya-rat

sendran deva-ganan ksiban

apasyan vyanadad bhrsam

SYNONYMS

sah—he; vai—indeed; tirohitan—vanished; drstva—having seen; mahasa—by might; svena—his own; daitya-rat—the chief of the Daityas (demons); sa-indran—along with Indra; deva-ganan—the demigods; ksiban—intoxicated; apasyan—not finding; vyanadat—roared; bhrsam—loudly.

TRANSLATION

On not finding Indra and the other demigods, who had previously been intoxicated with power, the chief of the Daityas, seeing that they had all vanished before his might, roared loudly.

3.17.24

tato nivrttah kridisyan

gambhiram bhima-nisvanam

vijagahe maha-sattvo

vardhim matta iva dvipah

SYNONYMS

tatah—then; nivrttah—returned; kridisyan—for the sake of sport; gambhiram—deep; bhima-nisvanam—making a terrible sound; vijagahe—dived; maha-sattvah—the mighty being; vardhim—in the ocean; mattah—in wrath; iva—like; dvipah—an elephant.

TRANSLATION

After returning from the heavenly kingdom, the mighty demon, who was like an elephant in wrath, for the sake of sport dived into the deep ocean, which was roaring terribly.

3.17.25

tasmin praviste varunasya sainika

yado-ganah sanna-dhiyah sasadhvasah

ahanyamana api tasya varcasa

pradharsita durataram pradudruvuh

SYNONYMS

tasmin praviste—when he entered the ocean; varunasya—of Varuna; sainikah—the defenders; yadah-ganah—the aquatic animals; sanna-dhiyah—depressed; sa-sadhvasah—with fear; ahanyamanah—not being hit; api—even; tasya—his; varcasa—by splendor; pradharsitah—stricken; dura-taram—far away; pradudruvuh—they ran fast.

TRANSLATION

On his entering the ocean, the aquatic animals who formed the host of Varuna were stricken with fear and ran far away.

Thus Hiranyaksa showed his splendor without dealing a blow.

PURPORT

Materialistic demons sometimes appear to be very powerful and are seen to establish their supremacy throughout the world.

Here also it appears that Hiranyaksa, by his demoniac strength, actually established his supremacy throughout the universe, and the demigods were afraid of his uncommon power.

Not only were the demigods in space afraid of the demons Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksa, but so also were the aquatic animals within the sea.

3.17.26

sa varsa-pugan udadhau maha-balas

caran mahormin chvasaneritan muhuh

maurvyabhijaghne gadaya vibhavarim

asedivams tata purim pracetasah

SYNONYMS

sah—he; varsa-pugan—for many years; udadhau—in the ocean; maha-balah—mighty; caran—moving; maha-urmin—gigantic waves; svasana—by the wind; iritan—tossed; muhuh—again and again; maurvya—iron; abhijaghne—he struck; gadaya—with his mace; vibhavarim—Vibhavari; asedivan—reached; tata—O dear Vidura; purim—the capital; pracetasah—of Varuna.

TRANSLATION

Moving about in the ocean for many, many years, the mighty Hiranyaksa smote the gigantic wind-tossed waves again and again with his iron mace and reached Vibhavari, the capital of Varuna.

PURPORT

Varuna is supposed to be the predominating deity of the waters, and his capital, which is known as Vibhavari, is within the watery kingdom.

3.17.27

tatropalabhyasura-loka-palakam

yado-gananam rsabham pracetasam

smayan pralabdhum pranipatya nicavaj

jagada me dehy adhiraja samyugam

SYNONYMS

tatra—there; upalabhya—having reached; asura-loka—of the regions where the demons reside; palakam—the guardian; yadah-gananam—of the aquatic creatures; rsabham—the lord; pracetasam—Varuna; smayan—smiling; pralabdhum—to make fun; pranipatya—having bowed down; nica-vat—like a lowborn man; jagada—he said; me—to me; dehi—give; adhiraja—O great lord; samyugam—battle.

TRANSLATION

Vibhavari is the home of Varuna, lord of the aquatic creatures and guardian of the lower regions of the universe, where the demons generally reside.

There Hiranyaksa fell at Varuna’s feet like a lowborn man, and to make fun of him he said with a smile, Give me battle, O Supreme Lord

PURPORT

The demoniac person always challenges others and tries to occupy others’ property by force.

Here these symptoms are fully displayed by Hiranyaksa, who begged war from a person who had no desire to fight.

3.17.28

tvam loka-palo ’dhipatir brhac-chrava

viryapaho durmada-vira-maninam

vijitya loke ’khila-daitya-danavan

yad rajasuyena purayajat prabho

SYNONYMS

tvam—you (Varuna); loka-palah—guardian of the plane; adhipatih—a ruler; brhat-sravah—of wide fame; virya—the power; apahah—diminished; durmada—of the proud; vira-maninam—thinking themselves very big heroes; vijitya—having conquered; loke—in the world; akhila—all; daitya—the demons; danavan—the Danavas; yat—whence; raja-suyena—with a Rajasuya sacrifice; pura—formerly; ayajat—worshiped; prabho—O lord.

TRANSLATION

You are the guardian of an entire sphere and a ruler of wide fame.

Having crushed the might of arrogant and conceited warriors and having conquered all the Daityas and Danavas in the world, you once performed a Rajasuya sacrifice to the Lord.

3.17.29

sa evam utsikta-madena vidvisa

drdham pralabdho bhagavan apam patih

rosam samuttham samayan svaya dhiya

vyavocad angopasamam gata vayam

SYNONYMS

sah—Varuna; evam—thus; utsikta—puffed up; madena—with vanity; vidvisa—by the enemy; drdham—deeply; pralabdhah—mocked; bhagavan—worshipful; apam—of the waters; patih—the lord; rosam—anger; samuttham—sprung up; samayan—controlling; svaya dhiya—by his reason; vyavocat—he replied; anga—O dear one; upasamam—desisting from warfare; gatah—gone; vayam—we.

TRANSLATION

Thus mocked by an enemy whose vanity knew no bounds, the worshipful lord of the waters waxed angry, but by dint of his reason he managed to curb the anger that had sprung up in him, and he replied: O dear one, we have now desisted from warfare, having grown too old for combat.

PURPORT

As we see, warmongering materialists always create fighting without reason.

3.17.30

pasyami nanyam purusat puratanad

yah samyuge tvam rana-marga-kovidam

aradhayisyaty asurarsabhehi tam

manasvino yam grnate bhavadrsah

SYNONYMS

pasyami—I see; na—not; anyam—other; purusat—than the person; puratanat—most ancient; yah—who; samyuge—in battle; tvam—to you; rana-marga—in the tactics of war; kovidam—very much skilled; aradhayisyati—will give satisfaction; asura-rsabha—O chief of the asuras; ihi—approach; tam—Him; manasvinah—heroes; yam—whom; grnate—praise; bhavadrsah—like you.

TRANSLATION

You are so skilled in war that I do not see anyone else but the most ancient person, Lord Visnu, who can give satisfaction in battle to you.

Therefore, O chief of the asuras, approach Him, whom even heroes like you mention with praise.

PURPORT

Aggressive materialistic warriors are actually punished by the Supreme Lord for their policy of unnecessarily disturbing world peace.

Therefore Varuna advised Hiranyaksa that the right course to satisfy his fighting spirit would be to seek to fight with Visnu.

3.17.31

tam viram arad abhipadya vismayah

sayisyase vira-saye svabhir vrtah

yas tvad-vidhanam asatam prasantaye

rupani dhatte sad-anugrahecchaya

SYNONYMS

tam—Him; viram—the great hero; arat—quickly; abhipadya—on reaching; vismayah—rid of pride; sayisyase—you will lie down; virasaye—on the battlefield; svabhih—by dogs; vrtah—surrounded; yah—He who; tvat-vidhanam—like you; asatam—of wicked persons; prasantaye—for the extermination; rupani—forms; dhatte—He assumes; sat—to the virtuous; anugraha—to show His grace; icchaya—with a desire.

TRANSLATION

Varuna continued: On reaching Him you will be rid of your pride at once and will lie down on the field of battle, surrounded by dogs, for eternal sleep.

It is in order to exterminate wicked fellows like you and to show His grace to the virtuous that He assumes His various incarnations like Varaha.

PURPORT

Asuras do not know that their bodies consist of the five elements of material nature and that when they fall they become objects of pastimes for dogs and vultures.

Varuna advised Hiranyaksa to meet Visnu in His boar incarnation so that his hankering for aggressive war would be satisfied and his powerful body would be vanquished.