Chapter Seventeen

The Birth of the Two Demons

|| 3.17.1||
maitreya uvca
niamytma-bhuv gta
kraa akayojjhit
tata sarve nyavartanta
tridivya divaukasa
Maitreya said: Hearing the cause of disturbance recited by
Brahm, the devats gave up worrying and all returned to
Svarga.
In the Seventeenth Chapter, at the birth of the two demons, many ill
omens appeared. Hirayaka, conquering everywhere, mocked Varua.
The devats gave up worrying because they had faith that the Lord
would handle the situation.
|| 3.17.2||
ditis tu bhartur ded
apatya-pariakin
pre vara-ate sdhv
putrau prasuuve yamau
Worrying about her sons because of the information given by
her husband, virtuous Diti gave birth to twin sons only after a
hundred years.
The information given by Kayapa was that the sons would make the
worlds lament. She was worried that her sons would cause problems
to the universe. Or she was worried that they would be killed by Viu.
|| 3.17.3||
utpt bahavas tatra
nipetur jyamnayo
divi bhuvy antarike ca
lokasyoru-bhayvah
Many disturbances which caused great fear to the world
occurred in the heavens, earth and antarika1 when the two
were born
Nipetu means occurred.
1

Antarika is between earth and Svarga.

|| 3.17.4||
sahcal bhuva celur
dia sarv prajajvalu
solk canaya petu
ketava crti-hetava
The earth and its mountains shook. All the directions were
afire. Thunderbolts and meteors fell. Comets, a cause of
disaster, appeared.
The verb appeared should be added after ketava.
|| 3.17.5||
vavau vyu suduspara
pht-krn rayan muhu
unmlayan naga-patn
vtynko rajo-dhvaja
Harsh winds constantly hissing, with dust as their flags and
hurricanes as their troops, uprooted the trees.
The winds made a piercing sound, with hurricanes as their troops.
|| 3.17.6||
uddhasat-taid-ambhodaghaay naa-bhgae
vyomni pravia-tamas
na sma vydyate padam
With complete darkness, no place could be seen in the sky
without luminaries visible, caused by dense clouds with
lighting, which seemed to laugh loudly
Nothing could be seen in the sky which had luminaries (bh-gaa)
because of masses of clouds with laughing lightning.
|| 3.17.7||
cukroa viman vrdhir
udrmi kubhitodara
sodapn ca sarita
cukubhu uka-pakaj
The grieving ocean with high waves and agitated inhabitants
wailed loudly. The rivers and wells with withered lotuses were
also agitated.

Vrdhi means ocean. Sodapn means with wells.

|| 3.17.8||
muhu paridhayo bhvan
sarhvo ai-sryayo
nirght ratha-nirhrd
vivarebhya prajajire
There were many eclipses of the sun and moon with halos.
There was thunder without clouds and from mountain caves
arose sounds of chariots.
Nirght means thunder without clouds. Sounds like chariots (rathanirhrda) arose from mountain caves (vivarebhya).
|| 3.17.9||
antar-grmeu mukhato
vamantyo vahnim ulbaam
sglolka-akrai
praedur aiva iv
Female jackals vomiting fearful fire from their mouths howled
inauspiciously along with the cries of their husbands and owls
within the villages.
iv means female jackals. akrai means with sound.
|| 3.17.10||
sagtavad rodanavad
unnamayya irodharm
vyamucan vividh vco
grma-sihs tatas tata
Dogs here and there uttered cries sounding like singing and
weeping while raising their heads up.
Grma-sih means dogs.
|| 3.17.11||
khar ca karkaai katta
khurair ghnanto dhar-talam
khrkra-rabhas matt
paryadhvan varthaa

O Vidura! Wild Asses ran about in herds, striking the earth

with their hard hooves and braying in glee.
O Vidura! The asses were joyful (rabhas), making braying sounds.
|| 3.17.12||
rudanto rsabha-trast
nd udapatan khag
ghoe raye ca paava
akn-mtram akurvata
Frightened by the braying, birds flew from their nests while
shrieking. The cows in their pens and in the forest passed
urine and stool.
The birds were frightened by the braying of the asses (rsabht).
|| 3.17.13||
gvo trasann asg-dohs
toyad pya-varia
vyarudan deva-ligni
drum petur vinnilam
Frightened cows gave blood instead of milk. Clouds rained
puss. The deities shed tears. Trees fell over without any wind.
Asgdoh means blood came out of the udders. Devaligni means
deities.
|| 3.17.14||
grahn puyatamn anye
bhaga cpi dpit
aticerur vakra-gaty
yuyudhu ca parasparam
The inauspicious planets with retrograde motion overtook the
auspicious planets and fought with them.
Auspicious planets refers to Jupiter, Venus, and others. Cruel planets
Mars, Saturn, and others surpassed the auspicious planets and with
retrograde motion fought.2
2

When a planet from our vision moves in the opposite direct from its normal course in the sky, it is called
retrograde motion. The planet exerts strong influence. When two or more of the planets Mercury, Venus,
Mars, Jupiter, or Saturn come within one degree longitude of each other they are said to fight with each
other.

|| 3.17.15||
dvny ca mahotptn
atat-tattva-vida praj
brahma-putrn te bht
menire viva-samplavam
Seeing also other powerful, evil portents, the citizens except
for the Kumras,, not knowing the truth, became afraid, and
thought that the universe was about to be destroyed.
Brahma-putrn means the Kumras, since they had cursed the door
keepers.
|| 3.17.16||
tv di-daityau sahas
vyajyamntma-pauruau
vavdhte ma-srea
kyendri-pat iva
These two original demons, like two mountains, immediately
displaying valor, grew up with bodies like steel.
In spite of the curse of the brhmaas, these two devotees of the Lord
were still superior. To make this known, this verse shows that they did
not have a trace of hellish suffering thought they performed many
sinful acts without pious acts, and attained lordship over the three
worlds with power, enjoyment and wealth.
|| 3.17.17||
divi-spau hema-kira-koibhir
niruddha-khau sphurad-agad-bhujau
g kampayantau caraai pade pade
kay sukcyrkam attya tasthatu
Touching the sky, blocking the directions with the crests of
their golden helmets, with blazing bracelets on their arms,
they stood, shaking the earth at every step, surpassing the
sun with their belted waists.
Kst means the directions. Bhujau in the dual is poetic license.
|| 3.17.18||
prajpatir nma tayor akrd
ya prk sva-dehd yamayor ajyata
ta vai hirayakaipu vidu praj
ya ta hiraykam asta sgrata

Kayapa gave names to his sons. He who was first to be

impregnated in Diti was known as Hirayakaipu and he who
came out first from Diti was known as Hirayka.
This verse describes how Kayapa (prajpati) gave the twins names
on the tenth day after birth. He named them such the child which
came first from his body was known as Hirayakaipu and the child
which first came from Ditis body was known as Hirayka. Yath and
tath should be supplied. The Pia-siddhi says:
yad vied dvidh bhta bja pupa parikarat
dvau tad bhavato garbhau stir vea viparyyayd
When a person impregnates semen twice in the womb, the two
embryos are born in reverse order to the impregnation.
Hirayakaipu was the eldest from the perspective of Kayapa, since
he had been deposited first. From the perspective of the mother,
Hirayka was eldest since he was born first from her womb. Though
either could be considered elder, because of the stronger position of
the father, Hirayakaipu was considered the elder.
|| 3.17.19||
cakre hirayakaipur
dorbhy brahma-varea ca
vae sa-pl loks trn
akuto-mtyur uddhata
By the power of his arms and assisted by Brahms boon,
Hirayakaipu, proud and unafraid of death, controlled the
three worlds and their devats.
Dorbhym means by the power of his arms. The word ca indicates that
Brahms blessing helped him in strength (though the main reason was
that he was a devotee of the Lord.)
|| 3.17.20||
hirayko nujas tasya
priya prti-kd anvaham
gad-pir diva yto
yuyutsur mgayan raam
His younger brother Hirayka, dear to him, pleased him
daily. With club in hand, he went to the heavens, desiring to
fight and seeking combat.

|| 3.17.21-22||
ta vkya dusaha-java
raat-kcana-npuram
vaijayanty sraj juam
asa-nyasta-mah-gadam
mano-vrya-varotsiktam
asyam akuto-bhayam
bht nililyire devs
trkya-trast ivhaya
Seeing him, uncontrollable and fearless, with intolerable
temper, with jingling gold anklets, with vaijayant garland and
s club placed on his shoulder, possessing mental and bodily
strength and strength given by Brahm, the devats became
frightened and disappeared just as snakes disappear out of
fear of Garua.
He was proud because of his mental strength, bodily strength, and
strength given by the devat (Brahm). Asyam means
uncontrollable.
|| 3.17.23||
sa vai tirohitn dv
mahas svena daitya-r
sendrn deva-gan kbn
apayan vyanadad bham
Seeing that the devats along with their leaders had
disappeared because of his strength, the king of the demons,
intoxicated, roared loudly.
Not seeing them, Hirayka became intoxicated (kibn). Instead of
this klvn (the devats were impotent) is also seen.
|| 3.17.24||
tato nivtta kriyan
gambhra bhma-nisvanam
vijaghe mah-sattvo
vrdhi matta iva dvipa
Returning from heaven, the mighty demon, desiring to sport,
like a mad elephant, dove into the deep ocean, which made a
terribe sound.

Not seeing any equal opponent in the ten directions, burning with the
heat of his great strength, he dove into the ocean with the hope that
maybe someone there would be to his equal and he could fight
|| 3.17.25||
tasmin pravie varuasya sainik
ydo-ga sanna-dhiya sasdhvas
ahanyamn api tasya varcas
pradharit dratara pradudruvu
When he entered the ocean, the aquatics, the troops of
Varua, depressed and fearful, defeated by his strength
without even being struck, ran far away.
|| 3.17.26||
sa vara-pgn udadhau mah-bala
caran mahorm chvasaneritn muhu
maurvybhijaghne gaday vibhvarm
sedivs tta pur pracetasa
The powerful demon moved about in the ocean for many years,
striking with his iron club the huge waves agitated by wind. He
then reached the city of Varua called Vibhvar.
Over many years (vara-pgn) he struck even the huge waves with
his club made of iron (maurvy). Maurvy can also mean made of a
type of grass called mrv. He moved about (caran). He came to
the city called Vibhvar and thought, There is a city here. I will enter
it.
|| 3.17.27||
tatropalabhysura-loka-plaka
ydo-ganm abha pracetasam
smayan pralabdhu praipatya ncavaj
jagda me dehy adhirja sayugam
Having reached Varua, the protector of Ptla-loka, the king
of the aquatics, Hirayka bowed down low before him in
jest, and said with a smile, O king! Give me a fight!
Varua is the protector of Ptla-loka (asura-loka). Hiranyka bowed
down to make fun of Varua.
|| 3.17.28||
tva loka-plo dhipatir bhac-chrav

vrypaho durmada-vra-mninm
vijitya loke khila-daitya-dnavn
yad rjasyena puryajat prabho
You, the master of the planet, the famous ruler, have
destroyed all power among those think themselves great
warriors, since, having conquered all the demons at a previous
time, you performed a rjasya sacrifice.
He speaks with opposite meaning. Because of the absences of demons
before this time, it was possible for all persons to perform rjasya
sacrifices. Now, conquer me and perform a rjasya sacrifice. Or,
your sacrifice will be perfected now, if you conquer me.
|| 3.17.29||
sa evam utsikta-madena vidvi
dha pralabdho bhagavn ap pati
roa samuttha amayan svay dhiy
vyavocad agopaama gat vayam
When mocked explicitly by the proud enemy, powerful Varua,
lord of the waters, controlled his rising anger and replied with
intelligence, Dear sir! I have become peaceful.
Varua thought, My anger will not be beneficial. I have become
peaceful means I have grown old. If I were to meet you when was
young, then I would defeat thousands like you. Or the phrase can
mean I have taken sannysa, and thus cannot fight, but even now I
can defeat you.
|| 3.17.30||
paymi nnya purut purtand
ya sayuge tv raa-mrga-kovidam
rdhayiyaty asurarabhehi ta
manasvino ya gate bhavd
O best of demons! I do not see anyone except the most ancient
person could satisfy you who in combat. You are most expert
at battle, but even persons like you praise Viu.
How will I be relieved of my desire for battle? This verse answers.
Therefore, o best of demons, you should go to Viu, whom warriors
such as you praise as the person who can relieve the itch for battle.
|| 3.17.31||

ta vram rd abhipadya vismaya

ayiyase vra-aye vabhir vta
yas tvad-vidhnm asat prantaye
rpi dhatte sad-anugrahecchay
Reaching him very quickly, you will lie down on the battlefield,
stripped of pride, surrounded by dogs. By his merciful desire,
he assumes many forms for destroying wicked person like you.
How long will it take to reach him? Very quickly, in five days you can
meet him. Stripped of your pride (vismaya), you will lie down to sleep.
Now afflicted by the sickness of pride, you do not sleep, agitated with
the desire to fight. Where the warriors lie down (vraaye) is the
battlefield. That will be your suitable bed. You will have many people
to care for your limbs. The dogs will surround you. If that is so, then
please tell me the form of the Lord. Searching inside and outside the
universe, on finding him, I will fight with him. How can he kill me? You
will see! For destroying the wicked, he assumes forms such as Varha
or Nsiha. I know in general, but I do not know in what particular
form he will kill you.
Thus ends the commentary on Seventeenth Chapter of the Third Canto
of the Bhgavatam for the pleasure of the devotees, in accordance
with the previous cryas