> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 3
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > Canto 3 Part 1

> > ************

> > Chapter Seventeen: Victory of Hiranyaksa over All the Directions of the Universe

> > ******

> > TEXT 1

> > maitreya uvaca

> > nisamyatma-bhuva gitam

> > karanam sankayojjhitah

> > tatah sarve nyavartanta

> > tridivaya divaukasah

> > 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 planets; diva-okasah: the demigods (who inhabit the higher planets).

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sri Maitreya said: The demigods, the inhabitants of the higher planets, 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 planets.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > ditis tu bhartur adesad

> > apatya-parisankini

> > purne varsa-sate sadhvi

> > putrau prasusuve yamau

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > utpata bahavas tatra

> > nipetur jayamanayoh

> > divi bhuvy antarikse ca

> > lokasyoru-bhayavahah

> > utpatah: natural disturbances; bahavah: many; tatra: there; nipetuh: occurred; jayamanayoh: on their birth; divi: in the heavenly planets; 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 planets, the earthly planets and in between them.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > sahacala bhuvas celur

> > disah sarvah prajajvaluh

> > solkas casanayah petuh

> > ketavas carti-hetavah

> > 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 planets like Saturn appeared, along with comets, meteors and thunderbolts.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > vavau vayuh suduhsparsah

> > phut-karan irayan muhuh

> > unmulayan naga-patin

> > vatyaniko rajo-dhvajah

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > uddhasat-tadid-am bhoda-

> > ghataya nasta-bhagane

> > vyomni pravista-tamasa

> > na sma vyadrsyate padam

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > cukrosa vimana vardhir

> > udurmih ksubhitodarah

> > sodapanas ca saritas

> > cuksubhuh suska-pankajah

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > muhuh paridhayo 'bhuvan

> > sarahvoh sasi-suryayoh

> > nirghata ratha-nirhrada-

> > vivarebhyah prajajnire

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > antar-gramesu mukhato

> > vamantyo vahnim ulbanam

> > srgaloluka-tankaraih

> > pranedur asivam sivah

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > sangitavad rodanavad

> > unnamayya sirodharam

> > vyamuncan vividha vaco

> > grama-simhas tatas tatah

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > kharas ca karkasaih ksattah

> > khurair ghnanto dhara-talam

> > kharkara-rabhasa mattah

> > paryadhavan varuthasah

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > rudanto rasabha-trasta

> > nidad udapatan khagah

> > ghose 'ranye ca pasavah

> > sakrn-mutram akurvata

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > gavo 'trasann asrg-dohas

> > toyadah puya-varsinah

> > vyarudan deva-lingani

> > drumah petur vinanilam

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > grahan punyataman anye

> > bhaganams capi dipitah

> > aticerur vakra-gatya

> > yuyudhus ca parasparam

> > grahan: planets; punya-taman: most auspicious; anye: others (the ominous planets); 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 planets 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 planets came in conflict with one another.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > drstvanyams ca mahotpatan

> > atat-tattva-vidah prajah

> > brahma-putran rte bhita

> > menire visva-samplavam

> > 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 potents and thought that the dissolution of the universe was at hand.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > tav adi-daityau sahasa

> > vyajyamanatma-paurusau

> > vavrdhate 'sma-sarena

> > kayenadri-pati iva

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > divi-sprsau hema-kirita-kotibhir

> > niruddha-kasthau sphurad-angada-bhujau

> > gam kampayantau caranaih pade pade

> > katya sukancyarkam atitya tasthatuh

> > 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; sukancya: 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > prajapatir nama tayor akarsid

> > yah prak sva-dehad yamayor ajayata

> > tam vai hiranyakasipum viduh praja

> > yam tam hiranyaksam asuta sagratah

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > cakre hiranyakasipur

> > dorbhyam brahma-varena ca

> > vase sa-palal lokams trin

> > akuto-mrtyur uddhatah

> > 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 planetary systems under his control.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > hiranyakso 'nujas tasya

> > priyah priti-krd anvaham

> > gada-panir divam yato

> > yuyutsur mrgayan ranam

> > hiranyaksah: Hiranyaksa; an ujah: 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 planets; 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > tam viksya duhsaha javam

> > ranat-kancana-nup u ram

> > vaijayantya sraja justam

> > amsa-nyasta-maha-gadam

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > mano-virya-varotsiktam

> > asrnyam akuto-bhayam

> > bhita nililyire devas

> > tarksya-trasta ivahayah

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > sa vai tirohitan drstva

> > mahasa svena daitya-rat

> > sendran deva-ganan ksiban

> > apasyan vyanadad bhrsam

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > tato nivrttah kridisyan

> > gambhiram bhima-nisvanam

> > vijagahe maha-sattvo

> > vardhim matta iva dvipah

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > tasmin praviste varunasya sainika

> > yado-ganah sanna-dhiyah sasadhvasah

> > ahanyamana api tasya varcasa

> > pradharsita durataram pradudruvuh

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > sa varsa-pugan udadhau maha-balas

> > caran mahormin chvasaneritan muhuh

> > maurvyabhijaghne gadaya vibhavarim

> > asedivams tata purim pracetasah

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > tatropa labhyasu ra-loka-palakam

> > yado-gananam rsabham pracetasam

> > smayan pralabdhum pranipatya nicavaj

> > jagada me dehy adhiraja samyugam

> > 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!"

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > tvam loka-palo 'dhipatir brhac-chrava

> > viryapaho durmada-vira-maninam

> > vijitya loke 'khila-daitya-danavan

> > yad rajasuyena purayajat prabho

> > tvam: you (Varuna); loka-palah: guardian of the planet; 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > sa evam utsikta-madena vidvisa

> > drdham pralabdho bhagavan apam patih

> > rosam samuttham samayan svaya dhiya

> > vyavocad angopasamam gata vayam

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > pasyami nanyam purusat pu ratanad

> > yah samyuge tvam rana-marga-kovidam

> > aradhayisyaty asurarsabhehi tam

> > manasvino yam grnate bhavadrsah

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > tam viram arad abhipadya vismayah

> > sayisyase vira-saye svabhir vrtah

> > yas tvad-vidhanam asatam prasantaye

> > rupani dhatte sad-anugrahecchaya

> > tam: Him; viram: the great hero; arat: quickly; abhipadya: on reaching; vismayah: rid of pride; sayisyase: you will lie down; vira-saye: 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 youwill 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.

> > Back to the running text