Text 14] Hiraṇyakaśipu, King of the Demons
75
tathā —so also;  prajānām —of all the citizens;  kadanam —persecution;  vidadhuḥ —executed;  kadana-priyāḥ —who are expert in persecuting others.
TRANSLATION
Thus the demons, being fond of disastrous activities, took Hiraṇyakaśipu's instructions on their heads with great respect and offered him obeisances. According to his directions, they engaged in envious activities directed against all living beings.
PURPORT
The followers of demoniac principles, as described here, are thoroughly envious of the general populace. In the present day, scientific advancement exemplifies such envy. The discovery of nuclear energy has been disastrous to people in general because demons all over the world are manufacturing nuclear weapons. The word  kadana-priyāḥ  is very significant in this regard. The demoniac persons who want to kill the Vedic culture are extremely envious of the feeble citizens, and they act in such a way that ultimately their discoveries will be inauspicious for everyone ( jagato 'hitāḥ ). The Sixteenth Chapter of  Bhagavad-gītā  fully explains how the demons engage in sinful activities for the destruction of the populace.
TEXT 14
पुरग्रामब्रजोद्यानक्षेत्रारामाश्रमाकरान् । खेटखर्वटघोषांश्च ददहुः पत्तनानि च ॥१४॥
pura-grāma-vrajodyāna- kṣetrārāmāśramākarān kheṭa-kharvaṭa-ghoṣāmś ca dadahuḥ pattanāni ca
pura —cities and towns;  grāma —villages;  vraja —pasturing grounds;  udyāna —gardens;  kṣetra —agricultural fields;  ārāma —natural forests;  āśrama —hermitages of saintly persons;  ākarān —and mines (that produce valuable metals to maintain brahminical culture);  kheṭa —farm