PURPORT

In the Skanda Purana there is this description: upayanam daduh sarve vina devan hiranyakah. Hiranyakasipu was so powerful that everyone but the three principal demigods-namely Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Lord Visnu-engaged in his service. Madhvacarya says, aditya vasavo rudras tri-vidha hi sura yatah. There are three kinds of demigods-the Adityas, the Vasus and the Rudras-beneath whom are the other demigods, like the Maruts and Sadhyas (marutas caiva visve ca sadhyas caiva ca tad-gatah). Therefore all the demigods are called tri-pistapa, and the same word tri applies to Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Lord Visnu.