SB 3.18.1 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

मैत्रेय उवाच तदेवमाकर्ण्य जलेशभाषितं महामनास्तद्विगणय्य दुर्मद: । हरेर्विदित्वा गतिमङ्ग नारदाद् रसातलं निर्विविशे त्वरान्वित: ॥ १ ॥

Verse text

maitreya uvāca tad evam ākarṇya jaleśa-bhāṣitaṁ mahā-manās tad vigaṇayya durmadaḥ harer viditvā gatim aṅga nāradād rasātalaṁ nirviviśe tvarānvitaḥ

Synonyms

maitreyaḥ — the great sage Maitreya ; uvāca — said ; tat — that ; evam — thus ; ākarṇya — hearing ; jala — īśa — of the controller of water, Varuṇa ; bhāṣitam — words ; mahā — manāḥ — proud ; tat — those words ; vigaṇayya — having paid little heed to ; durmadaḥ — vainglorious ; hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; viditvā — having learned ; gatim — the whereabouts ; aṅga — O dear Vidura ; nāradāt — from Nārada ; rasātalam — to the depths of the ocean ; nirviviśe — entered ; tvarā — anvitaḥ — with great speed .

Translation

Maitreya continued: The proud and falsely glorious Daitya paid little heed to the words of Varuṇa. O dear Vidura, he learned from Nārada the whereabouts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and hurriedly betook himself to the depths of the ocean.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Maitreya said: O Vidura! Hearing the words of Varuṇa, the arrogant and foolish Hiraṇyākṣa, ignored the warnings of Varuṇa, and learning from Nārada where he would find the Lord, he quickly entered the Garbhodaka Ocean. The Eighteenth Chapter describes a conversation between the demon and Varāha, Brahmā’s fear, and a battle using clubs. Hearing of a worthy opponent, and not considering Varuṇa’s words that he would lie down on the battlefield and that the Lord killed such demons as himself, since he thought that it was impossible he could be obstructed, proud and eager Hiraṇyākṣa searched for the Lord. “Where can I find him?” By chance he saw Nārada in the city and questioned him. From Nārada he learned where to go, and entered the Garbhodaka Ocean (rasātalam).

Purport

Materialistic warmongers are not even afraid to fight with their mightiest enemy, the Personality of Godhead. The demon was very encouraged to learn from Varuṇa that there was one fighter who could actually combat him, and he was very enthusiastic to search out the Supreme Personality of Godhead just to give Him a fight, even though it was predicted by Varuṇa that by fighting with Viṣṇu he would become prey for dogs, jackals and vultures. Since demoniac persons are less intelligent, they dare to fight with Viṣṇu, who is known as Ajita, or one who has never been conquered.