FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.4.18

शैला द्रोणीभिराक्रीडं सर्वर्तुषु गुणान् द्रुमा: । दधार लोकपालानामेक एव पृथग्गुणान् ॥ १८ ॥
śailā droṇībhir ākrīḍaṁ
[shailaa droneebhir aakreedam]
sarvartuṣu guṇān drumāḥ
[sarvartushu gunaan drumaah]
dadhāra loka-pālānām
[dadhaara loka-paalaanaam]
eka eva pṛthag guṇān
[eka eva prithag gunaan]
Word-for-word
śailāḥ — the hills and mountains droṇībhiḥ — with the valleys between them ākrīḍam — pleasure grounds for Hiraṇyakaśipu sarva — all ṛtuṣu — in the seasons of the year guṇān — different qualities (fruits and flowers) drumāḥ — the plants and trees dadhāra — executed loka-pālānām — of the other demigods in charge of different departments of natural activity ekaḥ — alone eva — indeed pṛthak — different guṇān — qualities.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śailā droṇībhir ākrīḍaṁ
śailāḥ
the hills and mountains
droṇībhiḥ
with the valleys between them
ākrīḍam
pleasure grounds for Hiraṇyakaśipu
sarvartuṣu guṇān drumāḥ
sarva
all
ṛtuṣu
in the seasons of the year
guṇān
different qualities (fruits and flowers)
drumāḥ
the plants and trees
dadhāra loka-pālānām
dadhāra
executed
loka-pālānām
of the other demigods in charge of different departments of natural activity
eka eva pṛthag guṇān
ekaḥ
alone
eva
indeed
pṛthak
different
guṇān
qualities.
The valleys between the mountains became fields of pleasure for Hiraṇyakaśipu, by whose influence all the trees and plants 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-mṛdāṁ 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.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The mountains with their valleys became the playground of Hiraṇyakaśipu. The trees yielded fruits of all seasons. He alone performed the functions of all the devatās. Ākṛiḍam means places for enjoying.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Hiranyakasipu personally directs water, drying, and burning — the duties of Indra, Vayu, and Agni — without the demigods' help. The asura concentrates many divine functions in one ego. Concentration of power over natural forces is dangerous when humility is absent.
Reflection Questions
  • Which functions in your sphere are concentrated in one person whose humility you should examine?
  • Where are you tempted to centralize control in yourself for the sake of efficiency?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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