Hiranyakashipu's Plan to Become Immortal

Verse 1 (bhagavata.7.3.1)

श्रीनारद उवाच हिरण्यकशिपू राजन्नजेयमजरामरम् । आत्मानमप्रतिद्वन्द्वमेकराजं व्यधित्सत ॥ १ ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca hiraṇyakaśipū rājann ajeyam ajarāmaram ātmānam apratidvandvam eka-rājaṁ vyadhitsata

Shri Narada said: O King, Hiranyakashipu resolved to make himself invincible, free from old age and death, without rival, and the sole sovereign of all.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.7.3.2)

स तेपे मन्दरद्रोण्यां तपः परमदारुणम् । ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्नभोदृष्टिः पादाङ्गुष्ठाश्रितावनिः ॥ २ ॥

sa tepe mandara-droṇyāṁ tapaḥ parama-dāruṇam ūrdhva-bāhur nabho-dṛṣṭiḥ pādāṅguṣṭhāśritāvaniḥ

He performed the most severe austerities in a valley of Mount Mandara — arms raised upward, eyes fixed on the sky, touching the earth with only the tips of his toes.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.7.3.3)

जटादीधितिभी रेजे संवर्तार्क इवांशुभिः । तस्मिंस्तपस्तप्यमाने देवाः स्थानानि भेजिरे ॥ ३ ॥

jaṭā-dīdhitibhī reje saṁvartārka ivāṁśubhiḥ tasmiṁs tapas tapyamāne devāḥ sthānāni bhejire

The radiance streaming from his matted locks blazed like the rays of the sun at the time of universal dissolution; and as his austerity intensified, the gods began to flee their own abodes.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.7.3.4)

तस्य मूर्ध्नः समुद्भूतः सधूमोऽग्निस्तपोमयः । तीर्यगूर्ध्वमधोलोकान् प्रातपद्विष्वगीरितः ॥ ४ ॥

tasya mūrdhnaḥ samudbhūtaḥ sadhūmo ’gnis tapomayaḥ tīryag ūrdhvam adho lokān prātapad viṣvag īritaḥ

From his head there arose a smoking fire born of his austerity, which spread in every direction, scorching the worlds above, below, and in between.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.7.3.5)

चुक्षुभुर्नद्युदन्वन्तः सद्वीपाद्रिश्चचाल भूः । निपेतुः सग्रहास्तारा जज्वलुश्च दिशो दश ॥ ५ ॥

cukṣubhur nady-udanvantaḥ sadvīpādriś cacāla bhūḥ nipetuḥ sagrahās tārā jajvaluś ca diśo daśa

Rivers and oceans were thrown into turmoil, the earth with its islands and mountains shook, the stars fell together with the planets, and all ten directions burst into flame.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.7.3.6)

तेन तप्ता दिवं त्यक्त्वा ब्रह्मलोकं ययुः सुराः । धात्रे विज्ञापयामासुर्देवदेव जगत्पते । दैत्येन्द्रतपसा तप्ता दिवि स्थातुं न शक्नुमः ॥ ६ ॥

tena taptā divaṁ tyaktvā brahmalokaṁ yayuḥ surāḥ dhātre vijñāpayām āsur deva-deva jagat-pate daityendra-tapasā taptā divi sthātuṁ na śaknumaḥ

Scorched by this, the gods left heaven and went to Brahmaloka, where they addressed the creator: "O god of gods, O lord of the universe, scorched by the demon-king's austerity, we are no longer able to remain in heaven."

Verse 7 (bhagavata.7.3.7)

तस्य चोपशमं भूमन् विधेहि यदि मन्यसे । लोका न यावन्नङ्क्ष्यन्ति बलिहारास्तवाभिभूः ॥ ७ ॥

tasya copaśamaṁ bhūman vidhehi yadi manyase lokā na yāvan naṅkṣyanti bali-hārās tavābhibhūḥ

O great one, if you think it fitting, please put an end to this, before all the worlds that offer you tribute are utterly destroyed.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.7.3.8)

तस्यायं किल सङ्कल्पश्चरतो दुश्चरं तपः । श्रूयतां किं न विदितस्तवाथापि निवेदितम् ॥ ८ ॥

tasyāyaṁ kila saṅkalpaś carato duścaraṁ tapaḥ śrūyatāṁ kiṁ na viditas tavāthāpi niveditam

Hear now the resolve behind this fearsome austerity he undertakes — though it is surely not unknown to you, still we submit it.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.7.3.9)

सृष्ट्वा चराचरमिदं तपोयोगसमाधिना । अध्यास्ते सर्वधिष्ण्येभ्यः परमेष्ठी निजासनम् ॥ ९ ॥

sṛṣṭvā carācaram idaṁ tapo-yoga-samādhinā adhyāste sarva-dhiṣṇyebhyaḥ parameṣṭhī nijāsanam

"By dint of austerity, yoga, and trance, Brahma, the Supreme Being, created this moving and unmoving world, and now sits enthroned above all the celestial abodes.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.7.3.10)

तदहं वर्धमानेन तपोयोगसमाधिना । कालात्मनोश्च नित्यत्वात्साधयिष्ये तथात्मनः ॥ १० ॥

tad ahaṁ vardhamānena tapo-yoga-samādhinā kālātmanoś ca nityatvāt sādhayiṣye tathātmanaḥ

Since both time and the self are eternal, by ever increasing my austerity, yoga, and trance, I too shall attain that very position for myself.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.7.3.11)

अन्यथेदं विधास्येऽहमयथा पूर्वमोजसा । किमन्यैः कालनिर्धूतैः कल्पान्ते वैष्णवादिभिः ॥ ११ ॥

anyathedaṁ vidhāsye ’ham ayathā pūrvam ojasā kim anyaiḥ kāla-nirdhūtaiḥ kalpānte vaiṣṇavādibhiḥ

Otherwise, by my own power, I shall remake this creation's order into something quite unlike before. What use, after all, is Vaikuntha or the like, when even it is swept away by time at the end of the age?"

Verse 12 (bhagavata.7.3.12)

इति शुश्रुम निर्बन्धं तपः परममास्थितः । विधत्स्वानन्तरं युक्तं स्वयं त्रिभुवनेश्वर ॥ १२ ॥

iti śuśruma nirbandhaṁ tapaḥ paramam āsthitaḥ vidhatsvānantaraṁ yuktaṁ svayaṁ tri-bhuvaneśvara

This is the firm resolve of his we have heard, and he remains fixed in the highest austerity. O lord of the three worlds, now do yourself whatever seems fitting.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.7.3.13)

तवासनं द्विजगवां पारमेष्ठ्यं जगत्पते । भवाय श्रेयसे भूत्यै क्षेमाय विजयाय च ॥ १३ ॥

tavāsanaṁ dvija-gavāṁ pārameṣṭhyaṁ jagat-pate bhavāya śreyase bhūtyai kṣemāya vijayāya ca

O lord of the universe, your supreme seat exists for the sake of the brahmanas and the cows, and for the general good, welfare, prosperity, security, and triumph of all.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.7.3.14)

इति विज्ञापितो देवैर्भगवानात्मभूर्नृप । परितो भृगुदक्षाद्यैर्ययौ दैत्येश्वराश्रमम् ॥ १४ ॥

iti vijñāpito devair bhagavān ātmabhūr nṛpa parito bhṛgu-dakṣādyair yayau daityeśvarāśramam

O King, thus informed by the gods, the self-born Lord Brahma, surrounded by Bhrigu, Daksha, and other sages, set out for the demon-king's hermitage.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.7.3.15)

न ददर्श प्रतिच्छन्नं वल्मीकतृणकीचकैः । पिपीलिकाभिराचीर्णं मेदस्त्वङ्मांसशोणितम् ॥ १५ ॥

na dadarśa praticchannaṁ valmīka-tṛṇa-kīcakaiḥ pipīlikābhir ācīrṇaṁ medas-tvaṅ-māṁsa-śoṇitam

At first he could not be seen, for he lay concealed beneath an anthill, grass, and bamboo canes, and ants had eaten away at his fat, skin, flesh, and blood.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.7.3.16)

तपन्तं तपसा लोकान् यथाभ्रापिहितं रविम् । विलक्ष्य विस्मितः प्राह हसंस्तं हंसवाहनः ॥ १६ ॥

tapantaṁ tapasā lokān yathābhrāpihitaṁ ravim vilakṣya vismitaḥ prāha hasaṁs taṁ haṁsa-vāhanaḥ

Seeing him — scorching the worlds with his austerity like the sun veiled by clouds — the swan-borne Brahma, filled with wonder, smiled and spoke to him.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.7.3.17)

श्रीब्रह्मोवाच उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भद्रं ते तपःसिद्धोऽसि काश्यप । वरदोऽहमनुप्राप्तो व्रियतामीप्सितो वरः ॥ १७ ॥

śrī-brahmovāca uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhadraṁ te tapaḥ-siddho ’si kāśyapa varado ’ham anuprāpto vriyatām īpsito varaḥ

Shri Brahma said: Rise, O son of Kashyapa, rise — may all good come to you. You have attained perfection through your austerity. I, the giver of boons, have come to you myself; ask now for whatever boon you desire.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.7.3.18)

अद्राक्षमहमेतं ते हृत्सारं महदद्भुतम् । दंशभक्षितदेहस्य प्राणा ह्यस्थिषु शेरते ॥ १८ ॥

adrākṣam aham etaṁ te hṛt-sāraṁ mahad-adbhutam daṁśa-bhakṣita-dehasya prāṇā hy asthiṣu śerate

I have witnessed this great and wondrous strength of your very heart — even with your body devoured by insects, your life-breath remained resting within your bones.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.7.3.19)

नैतत्पूर्वर्षयश्चक्रुर्न करिष्यन्ति चापरे । निरम्बुर्धारयेत्प्राणान् को वै दिव्यसमाः शतम् ॥ १९ ॥

naitat pūrvarṣayaś cakrur na kariṣyanti cāpare nirambur dhārayet prāṇān ko vai divya-samāḥ śatam

Not even the sages of ancient times have done such a thing, nor will any hereafter. Who, indeed, could sustain his life-breath for a hundred celestial years without even water?

Verse 20 (bhagavata.7.3.20)

व्यवसायेन तेऽनेन दुष्करेण मनस्विनाम् । तपोनिष्ठेन भवता जितोऽहं दितिनन्दन ॥ २० ॥

vyavasāyena te ’nena duṣkareṇa manasvinām tapo-niṣṭhena bhavatā jito ’haṁ diti-nandana

O son of Diti, by this arduous resolve of yours, this steadfastness in austerity that would defeat even the greatest of minds, I have indeed been conquered.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.7.3.21)

ततस्त आशिषः सर्वा ददाम्यसुरपुङ्गव । मर्तस्य ते ह्यमर्तस्य दर्शनं नाफलं मम ॥ २१ ॥

tatas ta āśiṣaḥ sarvā dadāmy asura-puṅgava martasya te hy amartasya darśanaṁ nāphalaṁ mama

Therefore, O foremost of asuras, I now grant you every boon you wish. This audience of yours, a mortal, with me, the immortal, shall not go without fruit.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.7.3.22)

श्रीनारद उवाच इत्युक्त्वादिभवो देवो भक्षिताङ्गं पिपीलिकैः । कमण्डलुजलेनौक्षद्दिव्येनामोघराधसा ॥ २२ ॥

śrī-nārada uvāca ity uktvādi-bhavo devo bhakṣitāṅgaṁ pipīlikaiḥ kamaṇḍalu-jalenaukṣad divyenāmogha-rādhasā

Shri Narada continued: Having said this, the primeval god Brahma sprinkled the divine, unfailingly potent water of his kamandalu over that body which the ants had eaten away.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.7.3.23)

स तत्कीचकवल्मीकात् सहओजोबलान्वितः । सर्वावयवसम्पन्नो वज्रसंहननो युवा । उत्थितस्तप्तहेमाभो विभावसुरिवैधसः ॥ २३ ॥

sa tat kīcaka-valmīkāt saha-ojo-balānvitaḥ sarvāvayava-sampanno vajra-saṁhanano yuvā utthitas tapta-hemābho vibhāvasur ivaidhasaḥ

From that anthill of bamboo and earth he rose up — endowed with vigor and strength, every limb whole, his body hard as a thunderbolt, glowing like molten gold, a young man risen up as fire rises from fuel.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.7.3.24)

स निरीक्ष्याम्बरे देवं हंसवाहमुपस्थितम् । ननाम शिरसा भूमौ तद्दर्शनमहोत्सवः ॥ २४ ॥

sa nirīkṣyāmbare devaṁ haṁsa-vāham upasthitam nanāma śirasā bhūmau tad-darśana-mahotsavaḥ

Seeing Brahma present before him in the sky upon his swan, and overjoyed at that very sight, he bowed his head to the ground in reverence.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.7.3.25)

उत्थाय प्राञ्जलिः प्रह्व ईक्षमाणो दृशा विभुम् । हर्षाश्रुपुलकोद्भेदो गिरा गद्गदयागृणात् ॥ २५ ॥

utthāya prāñjaliḥ prahva īkṣamāṇo dṛśā vibhum harṣāśru-pulakodbhedo girā gadgadayāgṛṇāt

Then rising, hands folded, bowed in humility, gazing upon the mighty lord, tears of joy welling and his body thrilled with rapture, he began, in a choked voice, to offer this praise.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.7.3.26)

श्रीहिरण्यकशिपुरुवाच कल्पान्ते कालसृष्टेन योऽन्धेन तमसावृतम् । अभिव्यनग्जगदिदं स्वयञ्ज्योतिः स्वरोचिषा ॥ २६ ॥

śrī-hiraṇyakaśipur uvāca kalpānte kāla-sṛṣṭena yo ’ndhena tamasāvṛtam abhivyanag jagad idaṁ svayañjyotiḥ sva-rociṣā

Shri Hiranyakashipu said: This universe, which at the end of each age becomes wrapped in the dense darkness fashioned by time — it is you, self-luminous, who reveal it again by your own splendor.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.7.3.27)

आत्मना त्रिवृता चेदं सृजत्यवति लुम्पति । रजःसत्त्वतमोधाम्ने पराय महते नमः ॥ २७ ॥

ātmanā tri-vṛtā cedaṁ sṛjaty avati lumpati rajaḥ-sattva-tamo-dhāmne parāya mahate namaḥ

Through your own threefold nature you create, sustain, and dissolve this world. Homage to you, the great and transcendent one, the very abode of rajas, sattva, and tamas.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.7.3.28)

नम आद्याय बीजाय ज्ञानविज्ञानमूर्तये । प्राणेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिविकारैर्व्यक्तिमीयुषे ॥ २८ ॥

nama ādyāya bījāya jñāna-vijñāna-mūrtaye prāṇendriya-mano-buddhi- vikārair vyaktim īyuṣe

Homage to you, the primordial seed, the very embodiment of knowledge and its application, who become manifest through the transformations of life-breath, senses, mind, and intelligence.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.7.3.29)

त्वमीशिषे जगतस्तस्थुषश्च प्राणेन मुख्येन पतिः प्रजानाम् । चित्तस्य चित्तैर्मनइन्द्रियाणां पतिर्महान् भूतगुणाशयेशः ॥ २९ ॥

tvam īśiṣe jagatas tasthuṣaś ca prāṇena mukhyena patiḥ prajānām cittasya cittair mana-indriyāṇāṁ patir mahān bhūta-guṇāśayeśaḥ

You are the master of all that moves and all that stands still; through the chief life-breath, you are the lord of all creatures; you rule the mind and thought and senses, and you are the great controller of the elements, the qualities, and the inner heart.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.7.3.30)

त्वं सप्ततन्तून् वितनोषि तन्वा त्रय्या चतुर्होत्रकविद्यया च । त्वमेक आत्मात्मवतामनादि- रनन्तपारः कविरन्तरात्मा ॥ ३० ॥

tvaṁ sapta-tantūn vitanoṣi tanvā trayyā catur-hotraka-vidyayā ca tvam eka ātmātmavatām anādir ananta-pāraḥ kavir antarātmā

In your form as the threefold Veda, and through the wisdom of the four priestly offices, you spread out the seven sacrificial threads. You alone are the beginningless, boundless, all-knowing inner self of all who possess a self.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.7.3.31)

त्वमेव कालोऽनिमिषो जनाना- मायुर्लवाद्यवयवैः क्षिणोषि । कूटस्थ आत्मा परमेष्ठ्यजो महां- स्त्वं जीवलोकस्य च जीव आत्मा ॥ ३१ ॥

tvam eva kālo ’nimiṣo janānām āyur lavādy-avayavaiḥ kṣiṇoṣi kūṭa-stha ātmā parameṣṭhy ajo mahāṁs tvaṁ jīva-lokasya ca jīva ātmā

You alone are time, ever wakeful, wearing away the lifespans of beings through moments and their fractions. And yet you remain unmoved, the birthless, great, supreme self — and you are the very life and soul of the world of living beings.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.7.3.32)

त्वत्तः परं नापरमप्यनेज- देजच्च किञ्चिद्व्यतिरिक्तमस्ति । विद्याः कलास्ते तनवश्च सर्वा हिरण्यगर्भोऽसि बृहत्त्रिपृष्ठः ॥ ३२ ॥

tvattaḥ paraṁ nāparam apy anejad ejac ca kiñcid vyatiriktam asti vidyāḥ kalās te tanavaś ca sarvā hiraṇyagarbho ’si bṛhat tri-pṛṣṭhaḥ

There is nothing distinct from you, whether higher or lower, moving or unmoving. All branches of knowledge, all arts, all forms are yours alone; you are Hiranyagarbha, vast, standing beyond the three modes of nature.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.7.3.33)

व्यक्तं विभो स्थूलमिदं शरीरं येनेन्द्रियप्राणमनोगुणांस्त्वम् । भुङ्क्षे स्थितो धामनि पारमेष्ठ्ये अव्यक्त आत्मा पुरुषः पुराणः ॥ ३३ ॥

vyaktaṁ vibho sthūlam idaṁ śarīraṁ yenendriya-prāṇa-mano-guṇāṁs tvam bhuṅkṣe sthito dhāmani pārameṣṭhye avyakta ātmā puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ

O mighty one, this gross universe is your manifest body, through which you, though ever established in your own supreme abode, seem to partake of the senses, life-breath, mind, and the qualities — while in truth you remain the unmanifest self, the eternal Supreme Person.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.7.3.34)

अनन्ताव्यक्तरूपेण येनेदमखिलं ततम् । चिदचिच्छक्तियुक्ताय तस्मै भगवते नमः ॥ ३४ ॥

anantāvyakta-rūpeṇa yenedam akhilaṁ tatam cid-acic-chakti-yuktāya tasmai bhagavate namaḥ

Homage to that Bhagavan, by whose infinite, unmanifest form this entire universe is pervaded, and who is endowed with both the conscious and the unconscious potencies.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.7.3.35)

यदि दास्यस्यभिमतान् वरान्मे वरदोत्तम । भूतेभ्यस्त्वद्विसृष्टेभ्यो मृत्युर्मा भून्मम प्रभो ॥ ३५ ॥

yadi dāsyasy abhimatān varān me varadottama bhūtebhyas tvad-visṛṣṭebhyo mṛtyur mā bhūn mama prabho

If you would grant me the boons I desire, O best of boon-givers, then, O lord, let death not come to me from any being that you have created.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.7.3.36)

नान्तर्बहिर्दिवा नक्तमन्यस्मादपि चायुधैः । न भूमौ नाम्बरे मृत्युर्न नरैर्न मृगैरपि ॥ ३६ ॥

nāntar bahir divā naktam anyasmād api cāyudhaiḥ na bhūmau nāmbare mṛtyur na narair na mṛgair api

Let my death come neither inside nor outside, neither by day nor by night, nor from any other cause, nor by any weapon; neither on the ground nor in the sky; neither from a man nor from a beast.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.7.3.37)

व्यसुभिर्वासुमद्भिर्वा सुरासुरमहोरगैः । अप्रतिद्वन्द्वतां युद्धे ऐकपत्यं च देहिनाम् ॥ ३७ ॥

vyasubhir vāsumadbhir vā surāsura-mahoragaiḥ apratidvandvatāṁ yuddhe aika-patyaṁ ca dehinām

Let my death come neither from anything lifeless nor from anything alive; neither from gods, demons, nor great serpents. Grant that I be without rival in battle, and grant me sole sovereignty over all embodied beings.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.7.3.38)

सर्वेषां लोकपालानां महिमानं यथात्मनः । तपोयोगप्रभावाणां यन्न रिष्यति कर्हिचित् ॥ ३८ ॥

sarveṣāṁ loka-pālānāṁ mahimānaṁ yathātmanaḥ tapo-yoga-prabhāvāṇāṁ yan na riṣyati karhicit

Grant me the very majesty of all the guardians of the worlds, as though it were my own, together with the power attained through austerity and yoga, which shall never at any time perish.