SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM - Prabhupada

CHAPTER TWOHiryakaSipu, King of the DemonsAs described in this chapter, after the annihilation of HiraQyiika,HiraQyiika's sons and his brother HiraQyakasipu were very much aggrieved.HiraQyakasipu reacted very sinfully by trying to diminish thereligious activities of people in general. However, he instructed hisnephews about a history just to diminish their aggrievement.When the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared as the boar andkilled HiraQyakasipu's brother HiraQyiika, HiraQyakasipu was verymuch aggrieved. In anger, he accused the Supreme Personality of Godheadof being partial to His devotees and derided the Lord's appearanceas Varaha to kill his brother. He began to agitate all the demons and Rak­asas and disturb the ritualistic ceremonies of the peaceful sages andother inhabitants of earth. For want of the performance of yajna,sacrifice, the demigods began wandering unseen on earth.After finishing the ritualistic funeral ceremonies of his brother,HiraQyakasipu began speaking to his nephews, quoting from the sastrasabout the truth of life. To pacify them, he spoke as follows: "My dearnephews, for heroes to die before the enemy is glorious. According totheir different fruitive activities, living entities come together withinthis material world and are again separated by the laws of nature. Weshould always know, however, that the spirit soul, which is differentfrom the body, is eternal, inadjustable, pure, all-pervading and aware ofeverything. When bound by the material energy, the soul takes birth inhigher or lower species of life according to varying association and in thisway receives various types of bodies in which to suffer or enjoy. One'sa:ffiiction by the conditions of material existence is the cause of happinessand distress; there are no other causes, and one should not be aggrievedupon seeing the superficial actions of karma."HiraQyakasipu then related a historical incident concerning a KingSuyajiia who resided in the country named Usinara. When the King waskilled, his queens, overwhelmed with grief, received instructions, which59