Text-09-12
SB 7.4.9-12
yatra vidruma-sopana
maha-marakata bhuvah
yatra sphatika-kudyani
vaidurya-stambha-panktayah
yatra citra-vitanani
padmaragasanani ca
payah-phena-nibhah sayya
muktadama-paricchadah
kujadbhir nupurair devyah
sabda-yantya itas tatah
ratna-sthalisu pasyanti
sudatih sundaram mukham
tasmin mahendra-bhavane maha-balo
maha-mana nirjita-loka eka-rat
reme ’bhivandyanghri-yugah suradibhih
pratapitair urjita-canda-sasanah
Translation by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada:
The steps of King Indra’s residence were made of coral, the floor was bedecked with invaluable emeralds, the walls were of crystal, and the columns of vaidurya stone. The wonderful canopies were beautifully decorated, the seats were bedecked with rubies, and the silk bedding, as white as foam, was decorated with pearls. The ladies of the palace, who were blessed with beautiful teeth and the most wonderfully beautiful faces, walked here and there in the palace, their ankle bells tinkling melodiously, and saw their own beautiful reflections in the gems. The demigods, however, being very much oppressed, had to bow down and offer obeisances at the feet of Hiranyakasipu, who chastised the demigods very severely and for no reason. Thus Hiranyakasipu lived in the palace and severely ruled everyone.
Purport by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada:
Hiranyakasipu was so powerful in the heavenly planets that all the demigods except Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Lord Visnu were forced to engage in his service. Indeed, they were afraid of being severely punished if they disobeyed him. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti has compared Hiranyakasipu to Maharaja Vena, who was also atheistic and scornful of the ritualistic ceremonies mentioned in the Vedas. Yet Maharaja Vena was afraid of some of the great sages such as Bhrgu, whereas Hiranyakasipu ruled in such a way that everyone feared him but Lord Visnu, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva. Hiranyakasipu was so alert against being burnt to ashes by the anger of great sages like Bhrgu that by dint of austerity he surpassed their power and placed even them under his subordination. It appears that even in the higher planetary systems, to which people are promoted by pious activities, disturbances are created by asuras like Hiranyakasipu. No one in the three worlds can live in peace and prosperity without disturbance.