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again. The Kumaras lauded Him with words full of import. Bhaga-
van addressing them said: ' These my door-keepers are by
name Jaya and Vijaya. They have slighted you, and it is right
that you have cursed them. I sanction that curse. For they
are my servants, and I am indirectly responsible for their deeds.
I always respect Brahmanas, as my glory is derived from them.
These door-keepers did not know my regard for you, and they
therefore unintentionally slighted you. But they shall instant-
ly reap the fruit of their evil deeds and come back to Me
when their punishment is over. Please therefore decide where they
are to go.' The Kumaras knew not what to say. They thought
they had not done right and they asked to be excused. ' It is all
right for Thee to extol the Brahmanas in this way, for Thou art the
Preserver of Dharma and Thou teachest others what to do. But if,
really, we have done wrong, let us be punished and let not our curse
visit these innocent door-keepers.' Bhagavan replied: ' It is I who
have uttered the curse through your mouths. My will shall be done.
These door-keepers shall be born as Asuras, but they shall come back
to Me speedily.' These two door-keepers, O Devas, have now ap-
peared in Diti's womb. I have no power to overcome them. But
when the time comes for the prevalence of Satva, Bhagavan Himself
will do what is needed."
The Devas went away and waited for events. The two Daityas
Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu were born of Diti, after a conception
of one hundred years. Hiranyakhsa though elder by birth was
younger by conception.
THOUGHTS ON HIRANYAKSHA.
[Diti is literally ' Cutting,' ' Splitting,' or ' dividing.' Jaya
and Vijaya mean victory. Hiranya is gold. Hiranyaksha means
gold-eyed. Hiranyakasipu means gold-bedded. The key to
the mystery lies in the fact that Jaya and Vijaya were the
door-keepers of Vishnu and their external form was that of
Vishnu. The Purusha in the Heart is the Counterpart in microcosm
of the Purusha in the Universe. And we have found above that the
five or ten door-keepers or Brahma-Purushas in the Heart are the
five or ten Pranas in man. By analogy, therefore, which is a potent
factor in the solution of mysteries, we find that Jaya and Vijaya are
the two-fold manifestations of Prana in Vaikuntha, the in-going and
out-going energies of Purusha. The life principle is an aspect of
Bhagavan and stands at His very gate. It is this outer aspect of
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v?