Text 14] Hiranyakasipu’s Plan to Become Immortal 141

position of Lord Brahma, not to speak of ordinary living entities, is
sometimes in danger. Nonetheless, until the time of Hiranyakasipu, no
one had tried to replace Lord Brahma. Hiranyakasipu, however, was such
a great demon that he maintained this ambition.

The word bhiityai means “for increasing opulence,” and the word
Sreyase refers to ultimately returning home, back to Godhead. In
spiritual advancement, one’s material position improves at the same time
that the path of liberation becomes clear and one is freed from material
bondage. If one is situated in an opulent position in spiritual advance-
ment, his opulence never decreases. Therefore such a spiritual benedic-
tion is called bhiti or vibhiti. Krsna confirms this in Bhagavad-gita
(10.41). Yad yad vibhitimat sattvam... mama tejo-’msa-sambhavam:
if a devotee advances in spiritual consciousness and thus becomes ma-
terially opulent also, his position is a special gift from the Lord. Such
opulence is never to be considered material. At the present, especially on
this planet earth, the influence of Lord Brahma has decreased considera-
bly, and the representatives of Hiranyakasipu—the Raksasas and
demons—have taken charge. Therefore there is no protection of
brahminical culture and cows, which are the basic prerequisites for all
kinds of good fortune. This age is very dangerous because society is
being managed by demons and Raksasas.

TEXT 14

ga frnftat | SiaTenTT |
qhat sacar 2a 1281

iti vijnapito devair
bhagavan atmabhir nrpa
parito bhrgu-daksddyair

yayau daityesvardsramam

iti—thus; vijnapitah—informed; devaih—by all the demigods;
bhagavan—the most powerful; adtma-bhih—Lord Brahma, who was
born from the lotus flower; nrpa—O King; paritah—being surrounded;
bhrgu—by Bhrgu; daksa—Daksa; a@dyaih—and others; yayau—went;
