140
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 7, Ch. 3]
TRANSLATION
O Lord Brahmā, your position within this universe is certainly most auspicious for everyone, especially the cows and brāhmaṇas. Brahminical culture and the protection of cows can be increasingly glorified, and thus all kinds of material happiness, opulence and good fortune will automatically increase. But unfortunately, if Hiraṇyakaśipu occupies your seat, everything will be lost.
PURPORT
In this verse the words  dvija-gavāṁ pārameṣṭhyam  indicate the most exalted position of the  brāhmaṇas , brahminical culture and the cows. In Vedic culture, the welfare of the cows and the welfare of the  brāhmaṇas  are essential. Without a proper arrangement for developing brahminical culture and protecting cows, all the affairs of administration will go to hell. Being afraid that Hiraṇyakaśipu would occupy the post of Brahmā, all the demigods were extremely disturbed. Hiraṇyakaśipu was a well-known demon, and the demigods knew that if demons and Rākṣasas were to occupy the supreme post, brahminical culture and protection of cows would come to an end. As stated in  Bhagavad-gītā  (5.29), the original proprietor of everything is Lord Kṛṣṇa ( bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram ). The Lord, therefore, knows particularly well how to develop the material condition of the living entities within this material world. In every universe there is one Brahmā engaged on behalf of Lord Kṛṣṇa, as confirmed in  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam  ( tene brahma hṛdā ya ādi-kavaye ). The principal creator in each  brahmāṇḍa  is Lord Brahmā, who imparts Vedic knowledge to his disciples and sons. On every planet, the king or supreme controller must be a representative of Brahmā. Therefore, if a Rākṣasa, or demon, were situated in Brahmā's post, then the entire arrangement of the universe, especially the protection of the brahminical culture and cows, would be ruined. All the demigods anticipated this danger, and therefore they went to request Lord Brahmā to take immediate steps to thwart Hiraṇyakaśipu's plan.
In the beginning of creation, Lord Brahmā was attacked by two demons—Madhu and Kaiṭabha—but Kṛṣṇa saved him. Therefore Kṛṣṇa is addressed as  madhu-kaiṭabha-hantṛ . Now again, Hiraṇyakaśipu was trying to replace Brahmā. The material world is so situated that even the