Text 24] HiranyakaSipu’s Plan to Become Immortal 151

sa niriksyambare devam
hamsa-vaham upasthitam

nanama Sirasad bhiimau
tad-darsana-mahotsavah

sah—he (Hiranyakagipu); niriksya—seeing; ambare—in the sky;
devam—the supreme demigod; hamsa-vadham—who rides a swan
airplane; upasthitam—situated before him; nandma—offered obei-
sances; Sirasa—with his head; bhimau—on the ground; tat-darsana—
by seeing Lord Brahma; mahd-utsavah—very much pleased.

TRANSLATION
Seeing Lord Brahma present before him in the sky, carried by

his swan airplane, HiranyakaSipu was extremely pleased. He im-
mediately fell flat with his head on the ground and began to ex-
press his obligation to the lord.

PURPORT
Lord Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (9.23-24):

ye ‘py anya-devata-bhakta
yajante sraddhayanvitah

te ‘pi mam eva kaunteya
yajanty avidhi-pirvakam

aham hi sarva-yajnanam
bhokta ca prabhur eva ca

na tu mam abhiydananti
tattvendtas cyavanti te

“Whatever a man may sacrifice to other gods, O son of Kunti, is really
meant for Me alone, but it is offered without true understanding. | am
the only enjoyer and the only object of sacrifice. Those who do not recog-
nize My true transcendental nature fall down.”

In effect, Krsna says, “Persons engaged in the worship of demigods
are not very intelligent, although such worship is indirectly offered to
