Hiranyakasipu received an extraordinary boon from Brahma who was happy with the demon's rigorous austerities :" May I not die at the hands of anything created, at daytime or at night, indoors or outdoors, on land or in the sky and by any weapon whatsoever. May I also be lord of all beings and have my powers of penance intact."

As a consequence, Hiranyakasipu conquered the earth, oceans, mountains and eventually heaven too. He was wicked and oppressed the people. He even ordered the execution of his own son, a worshiper of Vishnu. "Overwhelmed with unbearable (violent) wrath, and with eyes reddened with anger Hiranyakasipu ordered : ...this boy deserves capital punishment. Let him be executed immediately".

The son Pralhada persisted in his worship, claiming that Vishnu is everywhere. His father retorted : " As you are vaunting too much, I now sever your head from the trunk. Let Hari, who you trust as protector, save you". at that moment, Hiranyakasipu sprang from his throne, knocked a pillar which was not inside nor outside with his fist. It was twilight. Amidst a terrific crash of pillars, Vishnu manifested as man-lion. "The body was terrible and refulgent, like a crore of suns, blazing and powerful like the fire at the time of dissolution". A battle ensued and finally Hiranyakasipu was gored by the claws of the lion. Heaven was regained by the gods.