690 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 17
TRANSLATION

The elder child, Hiranyakasgipu, was not afraid of death from anyone
within the three worlds because he had 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.

PURPORT

As will be revealed in later chapters, Hiranyakasipu underwent severe
austerity and penance to satisfy Brahma and thus receive a benediction
of immortality. Actually it is impossible even for Lord Brahma to give
anyone the benediction of becoming immortal, but indirectly Hiranya-
kasipu received the benediction that no one within this material world
would be able to kill him. In other words, because he originally came
from the abode of Vaikuntha, he was not to be killed by anyone within
this material world. The Lord desired to appear Himself to kill him. One
may be very proud of his material advancement in knowledge, but he
cannot be immune to the four principles of material existence, namely
birth, death, old age and disease. It was the Lord’s plan to teach people
that even Hiranyakasipu, who was so powerful and strongly built, could
not live more than his destined duration of life. One may become as strong
and puffed up as Hiranyakasipu and bring under his control all the three
worlds, but there is no possibility of continuing life eternally or keeping
the conquered booty forever. So many emperors have ascended to power,
and they are now lost in oblivion; that is the history of the world.

TEXT 20
Remisgaea fr siftacaey |
e
TEVTSS TT TARTTTT TTY NRolt
hiranyakso ’nujas lasya
priyah prilikrd anvaham
gada-panir divarit yalo
yuyulsur mygayan ranam

hiranyaksah—Hiranyaksa; anujah—younger brother; lasya—his; priyah—
beloved; priti-krt—ready to please; anvaham—every day; gada-panih—with
a club in hand; divam—to the higher planets; ydlah—traveled; ywyulsuh—
desirous to fight; mrgayan—seeking; ranam—combat.
