184
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 7, Ch. 4]
produced fruits and flowers profusely in all seasons. The qualities of pouring water, drying and burning, which are all qualities of the three departmental heads of the universe—namely Indra, Vāyu and Agni—were all directed by Hiraṇyakaśipu alone, without assistance from the demigods.
PURPORT
It is said in the beginning of  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ,  tejo-vāri-mṛdām yathā vinimayaḥ : this material world is conducted by fire, water and earth, which combine and take shape. Here it is mentioned that the three modes of nature ( pṛthag guṇān ) act under the direction of different demigods. For example, King Indra is in charge of pouring water, the demigod Vāyu controls the air and dries up the water, whereas the demigod controlling fire burns everything. Hiraṇyakaśipu, however, by dint of his austere performance of mystic  yoga , became so powerful that he alone took charge of everything, without assistance from the demigods.
TEXT 19
स इत्थं निर्जितककुबेकराड् विषयान् प्रियान् । यथोपजोषं भुञ्जानो नावृष्यदजितेन्द्रियः ॥१९॥
sa ittham nirjita-kakub eka-rāḍ viṣayān priyān yathopajoṣam bhuñjāno nātṛpyad ajitendriyaḥ
saḥ —he (Hiraṇyakaśipu);  ittham —thus;  nirjita —conquered;  kakub —all directions within the universe;  eka-rāṭ —the one emperor of the whole universe;  viṣayān —material sense objects;  priyān —very pleasing;  yathā-upajoṣam —as much as possible;  bhuñjānaḥ —enjoying;  na —did not;  atṛpyat —was satisfied;  ajita-indriyaḥ —being unable to control the senses.
TRANSLATION
In spite of achieving the power to control in all directions and in spite of enjoying all types of dear sense gratification as much as