Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 7: “The Science of God”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chapter Three

Hiranyakasipu’s Plan to Become Immortal

SB7.3Summary

This chapter describes how Hiranyakasipu performed a severe type of austerity for material benefit, thus causing great distress throughout the universe. Even Lord Brahma, the chief personality within this universe, became somewhat disturbed and personally went to see why Hiranyakasipu was engaged in such a severe austerity.

Hiranyakasipu wanted to become immortal. He wanted not to be conquered by anyone, not to be attacked by old age and disease, and not to be harassed by any opponent. Thus he wanted to become the absolute ruler of the entire universe. With this desire, he entered the valley of Mandara Mountain and began practicing a severe type of austerity and meditation. Seeing Hiranyakasipu engaged in this austerity, the demigods returned to their respective homes, but while Hiranyakasipu was thus engaged, a kind of fire began blazing from his head, disturbing the entire universe and its inhabitants, including the birds, beasts and demigods. When all the higher and lower planets became too hot to live on, the demigods, being disturbed, left their abodes in the higher planets and went to see Lord Brahma, praying to him that he curtail this unnecessary heat. The demigods disclosed to Lord Brahma Hiranyakasipu’s ambition to become immortal, overcoming his short duration of life, and to be the master of all the planetary systems, even Dhruvaloka.

Upon hearing about the purpose of Hiranyakasipu’s austere meditation, Lord Brahma, accompanied by the great sage Bhrgu and great personalities like Daksa, went to see Hiranyakasipu. He then sprinkled water from his kamandalu, a type of waterpot, upon Hiranyakasipu’s head.

Hiranyakasipu, the King of the Daityas, bowed down before Lord Brahma, the creator of this universe, offering respectful obeisances again and again and offering prayers. When Lord Brahma agreed to give him benedictions, he prayed not be killed by any living entity, not to be killed in any place, covered or uncovered, not to die in the daytime or at night, not to be killed by any weapon, on land or in the air, and not to be killed by any human being, animal, demigod or any other entity, living or nonliving. He further prayed for supremacy over the entire universe and requested the eight yogic perfections, such as anima and laghima.

SB7.3.1

TEXT 1

sri-narada uvaca

hiranyakasipu rajann

ajeyam ajaramaram

atmanam apratidvandvam

eka-rajam vyadhitsata

SYNONYMS

sri-naradah uvaca—Narada Muni said; hiranyakasipuh—the demoniac king Hiranyakasipu; rajan—O King Yudhisthira; ajeyam—unconquerable by any enemy; ajara—without old age or disease; amaram—immortal; atmanam—himself; apratidvandvam—without any rival or opponent; eka-rajam—the one king of the universe; vyadhitsata—desired to become.

TRANSLATION

Narada Muni said to Maharaja Yudhisthira: The demoniac king Hiranyakasipu wanted to be unconquerable and free from old age and dwindling of the body. He wanted to gain all the yogic perfections like anima and laghima, to be deathless, and to be the only king of the entire universe, including Brahmaloka.

PURPORT

Such are the goals of the austerities performed by demons. Hiranyakasipu wanted to receive a benediction from Lord Brahma so that in the future he would be able to conquer Lord Brahma’s abode. Similarly, another demon received a benediction from Lord Siva but later wanted to kill Lord Siva through that same benediction. Thus self-interested persons, by demoniac austerity, want to kill even their benedictors, whereas the Vaisnava wants to remain an ever-existing servant of the Lord and never to occupy the post of the Lord. Through sayujya-mukti, which is generally demanded by asuras, one merges into the existence of the Lord, but although one sometimes thus achieves the goal of the theory of monism, one falls down again to struggle in material existence.

SB7.3.2

TEXT 2

sa tepe mandara-dronyam

tapah parama-darunam

urdhva-bahur nabho-drstih

padangusthasritavanih

SYNONYMS

sah—he (Hiranyakasipu); tepe—performed; mandara-dronyam—in a valley of Mandara Hill; tapah—austerity; parama—most; darunam—difficult; urdhva—raising; bahuh—arms; nabhah—toward the sky; drstih—his vision; pada-angustha—with the big toes of his feet; asrita—resting on; avanih—the ground.

TRANSLATION

In the valley of Mandara Hill, Hiranyakasipu began performing his austerities by standing with his toes on the ground, keeping his arms upward and looking toward the sky. This position was extremely difficult, but he accepted it as a means to attain perfection.

SB7.3.3

TEXT 3

jata-didhitibhi reje

samvartarka ivamsubhih

tasmims tapas tapyamane

devah sthanani bhejire

SYNONYMS

jata-didhitibhih—by the effulgence of the hair on his head; reje—was shining; samvarta-arkah—the sun at the time of destruction; iva—like; amsubhih—by the beams; tasmin—when he (Hiranyakasipu); tapah—austerities; tapyamane—was engaged in; devah—all the demigods who were wandering throughout the universe to see Hiranyakasipu’s demoniac activities; sthanani—to their own places; bhejire—returned.

TRANSLATION

From the hair on Hiranyakasipu’s head there emanated an effulgent light as brilliant and intolerable as the rays of the sun at the time of dissolution. Seeing the performance of such austere penances, the demigods, who had been wandering throughout the planets, now returned to their respective homes.

SB7.3.4

TEXT 4

tasya murdhnah samudbhutah

sadhumo ’gnis tapomayah

tiryag urdhvam adho lokan

pratapad visvag iritah

SYNONYMS

tasya—his; murdhnah—from the head; samudbhutah—generated; sa-dhumah—with smoke; agnih—fire; tapah-mayah—because of severe austerities; tiryak—sideways; urdhvam—upward; adhah—downward; lokan—all the planets; pratapat—heated; visvak—all around; iritah—spreading.

TRANSLATION

Because of Hiranyakasipu’s severe austerities, fire came from his head, and this fire and its smoke spread throughout the sky, encompassing the upper and lower planets, which all became extremely hot.

SB7.3.5

TEXT 5

cuksubhur nady-udanvantah

sadvipadris cacala bhuh

nipetuh sagrahas tara

jajvalus ca diso dasa

SYNONYMS

cuksubhuh—became agitated; nadi-udanvantah—the rivers and oceans; sa-dvipa—with the islands; adrih—and mountains; cacala—trembled; bhuh—the surface of the globe; nipetuh—fell; sa-grahah—with the planets; tarah—the stars; jajvaluh—blazed; ca—also; disah dasa—the ten directions.

TRANSLATION

Because of the power of his severe austerities, all the rivers and oceans were agitated, the surface of the globe, with its mountains and islands, began trembling, and the stars and planets fell. All directions were ablaze.

SB7.3.6

TEXT 6

tena tapta divam tyaktva

brahmalokam yayuh surah

dhatre vijnapayam asur

deva-deva jagat-pate

daityendra-tapasa tapta

divi sthatum na saknumah

SYNONYMS

tena—by that (fire of austerity); taptah—burned; divam—their residential quarters in the upper planets; tyaktva—giving up; brahma-lokam—to the planet where Lord Brahma lives; yayuh—went; surah—the demigods; dhatre—unto the chief of this universe, Lord Brahma; vijnapayam asuh—submitted; deva-deva—O chief of the demigods; jagat-pate—O master of the universe; daitya-indra-tapasa—by the severe austerity performed by the King of the Daityas, Hiranyakasipu; taptah—roasted; divi—on the heavenly planets; sthatum—to stay; na—not; saknumah—we are able.

TRANSLATION

Scorched and extremely disturbed because of Hiranyakasipu’s severe penances, all the demigods left the planets where they reside and went to the planet of Lord Brahma, where they informed the creator as follows: O lord of the demigods, O master of the universe, because of the fire emanating from Hiranyakasipu’s head as a result of his severe austerities, we have become so disturbed that we could not stay in our planets but have come to you.

SB7.3.7

TEXT 7

tasya copasamam bhuman

vidhehi yadi manyase

loka na yavan nanksyanti

bali-haras tavabhibhuh

SYNONYMS

tasya—of this; ca—indeed; upasamam—the cessation; bhuman—O great personality; vidhehi—please execute; yadi—if; manyase—you think it right; lokah—all the inhabitants of the various planets; na—not; yavat—as long as; nanksyanti—will be lost; bali-harah—who are obedient to the worship; tava—of you; abhibhuh—O chief of all the universe.

TRANSLATION

O great person, chief of the universe, if you think it proper, kindly stop these disturbances, meant to destroy everything, before all your obedient subjects are annihilated.

SB7.3.8

TEXT 8

tasyayam kila sankalpas

carato duscaram tapah

sruyatam kim na viditas

tavathapi niveditam

SYNONYMS

tasya—his; ayam—this; kila—indeed; sankalpah—determination; caratah—who is executing; duscaram—very difficult; tapah—austerity; sruyatam—let it be heard; kim—what; na—not; viditah—known; tava—of you; athapi—still; niveditam—submitted.

TRANSLATION

Hiranyakasipu has undertaken a most severe type of austerity. Although his plan is not unknown to you, kindly listen as we submit his intentions.

SB7.3.9-10

TEXTS 9–10

srstva caracaram idam

tapo-yoga-samadhina

adhyaste sarva-dhisnyebhyah

paramesthi nijasanam

tad aham vardhamanena

tapo-yoga-samadhina

kalatmanos ca nityatvat

sadhayisye tathatmanah

SYNONYMS

srstva—creating; cara—moving; acaram—and not moving; idam—this; tapah—of austerity; yoga—and mystic power; samadhina—by practicing the trance; adhyaste—is situated in; sarva-dhisnyebhyah—than all the planets, including the heavenly planets; paramesthi—Lord Brahma; nija-asanam—his own throne; tat—therefore; aham—I; vardhamanena—by dint of increasing; tapah—austerity; yoga—mystic powers; samadhina—and trance; kala—of time; atmanoh—and of the soul; ca—and; nityatvat—from the eternality; sadhayisye—shall achieve; tatha—so much; atmanah—for my personal self.

TRANSLATION

“The supreme person within this universe, Lord Brahma, has gotten his exalted post by dint of severe austerities, mystic power and trance. Consequently, after creating the universe, he has become the most worshipable demigod within it. Since I am eternal and time is eternal, I shall endeavor for such austerity, mystic power and trance for many, many births, and thus I shall occupy the same post occupied by Lord Brahma.

PURPORT

Hiranyakasipu’s determination was to occupy the post of Lord Brahma, but this was impossible because Brahma has a long duration of life. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (8.17), sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmano viduh: one thousand yugas equals one day of Brahma. The duration of Brahma’s life is extremely great, and consequently it was impossible for Hiranyakasipu to occupy that post. Nonetheless, his decision was that since the self (atma) and time are both eternal, if he could not occupy that post in one lifetime he would continue to execute austerities life after life so that sometime he would be able to do so.

SB7.3.11

TEXT 11

anyathedam vidhasye ’ham

ayatha purvam ojasa

kim anyaih kala-nirdhutaih

kalpante vaisnavadibhih

SYNONYMS

anyatha—just the opposite; idam—this universe; vidhasye—shall make; aham—I; ayatha—inappropriate; purvam—as it was before; ojasa—by dint of the power of my austerity; kim—what use; anyaih—with other; kala-nirdhutaih—vanquished in due course of time; kalpa-ante—at the end of the millennium; vaisnava-adibhih—with planets like Dhruvaloka or Vaikunthaloka.

TRANSLATION

“By dint of my severe austerities, I shall reverse the results of pious and impious activities. I shall overturn all the established practices within this world. Even Dhruvaloka will be vanquished at the end of the millennium. Therefore, what is the use of it? I shall prefer to remain in the position of Brahma.”

PURPORT

Hiranyakasipu’s demoniac determination was explained to Lord Brahma by the demigods, who informed him that Hiranyakasipu wanted to overturn all the established principles. After executing severe austerities, people within this material world are promoted to the heavenly planets, but Hiranyakasipu wanted them to be unhappy, suffering because of the diplomatic feelings of the demigods, even in the heavenly planets. He wanted those who were harassed in this world by material transactions to be unhappy for the same reason, even in the heavenly planets. Indeed, be wanted to introduce such harassment everywhere. One might ask how this would be possible, since the universal order has been established since time immemorial, but Hiranyakasipu was proud to declare that he would be able to do everything by the power of his tapasya. He even wanted to make the Vaisnavas’ position insecure. These are some of the symptoms of asuric determination.

SB7.3.12

TEXT 12

iti susruma nirbandham

tapah paramam asthitah

vidhatsvanantaram yuktam

svayam tri-bhuvanesvara

SYNONYMS

iti—in this way; susruma—we have heard; nirbandham—strong determination; tapah—austerity; paramam—very severe; asthitah—is situated in; vidhatsva—please take steps; anantaram—as soon as possible; yuktam—befitting; svayam—yourself; tri-bhuvana-isvara—O master of the three worlds.

TRANSLATION

O lord, we have heard from reliable sources that in order to obtain your post, Hiranyakasipu is now engaged in severe austerity. You are the master of the three worlds. Please, without delay, take whatever steps you deem appropriate.

PURPORT

In the material world, a servant is provided for by the master but is always planning how to capture the master’s post. There have been many instances of this in history. Especially in India during the Mohammedan rule, many servants, by plans and devices, took over the posts of their masters. It is learned from Caitanya literature that one big Zamindar, Subuddhi Raya, kept a Mohammedan boy as a servant. Of course, he treated the boy as his own child, and sometimes, when the boy would steal something, the master would chastise him by striking him with a cane. There was a mark on the boy’s back from this chastisement. Later, after that boy had by crooked means become Hussain Shah, Nawab of Bengal, one day his wife saw the mark on his back and inquired about it. The Nawab replied that in his childhood he had been a servant of Subuddhi Raya, who had punished him because of some mischievous activities. Upon hearing this, the Nawab’s wife immediately became agitated and requested her husband to kill Subuddhi Raya. Nawab Hussain Shah, of course, was very grateful to Subuddhi Raya and therefore refused to kill him, but when his wife requested him to turn Subuddhi Raya into a Mohammedan, the Nawab agreed. Taking some water from his waterpot, he sprinkled it upon Subuddhi Raya and declared that Subuddhi Raya had now become a Mohammedan. The point is that this Nawab had been an ordinary menial servant of Subuddhi Raya but was somehow or other able to occupy the supreme post of Nawab of Bengal. This is the material world. Everyone is trying to become master through various devices, although everyone is servant of his senses. Following this system, a living entity, although servant of his senses, tries to become master of the whole universe. Hiranyakasipu was a typical example of this, and Brahma was informed by the demigods of his intentions.

SB7.3.13

TEXT 13

tavasanam dvija-gavam

paramesthyam jagat-pate

bhavaya sreyase bhutyai

ksemaya vijayaya ca

SYNONYMS

tava—your; asanam—position on the throne; dvija—of the brahminical culture or the brahmanas; gavam—of the cows; paramesthyam—supreme; jagat-pate—O master of the whole universe; bhavaya—for improvement; sreyase—for the ultimate happiness; bhutyai—for increasing the opulence; ksemaya—for the maintenance and good fortune; vijayaya—for the victory and increasing prestige; ca—and.

TRANSLATION

O Lord Brahma, your position within this universe is certainly most auspicious for everyone, especially the cows and brahmanas. Brahminical culture and the protection of cows can be increasingly glorified, and thus all kinds of material happiness, opulence and good fortune will automatically increase. But unfortunately, if Hiranyakasipu occupies your seat, everything will be lost.

PURPORT

In this verse the words dvija-gavam paramesthyam indicate the most exalted position of the brahmanas, brahminical culture and the cows. In Vedic culture, the welfare of the cows and the welfare of the brahmanas are essential. Without a proper arrangement for developing brahminical culture and protecting cows, all the affairs of administration will go to hell. Being afraid that Hiranyakasipu would occupy the post of Brahma, all the demigods were extremely disturbed. Hiranyakasipu was a well-known demon, and the demigods knew that if demons and Raksasas were to occupy the supreme post, brahminical culture and protection of cows would come to an end. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (5.29), the original proprietor of everything is Lord Krsna (bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram). The Lord, therefore, knows particularly well how to develop the material condition of the living entities within this material world. In every universe there is one Brahma engaged on behalf of Lord Krsna, as confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (tene brahma hrdaya adi-kavaye). The principal creator in each brahmanda is Lord Brahma, who imparts Vedic knowledge to his disciples and sons. On every planet, the king or supreme controller must be a representative of Brahma. Therefore, if a Raksasa, or demon, were situated in Brahma’s post, then the entire arrangement of the universe, especially the protection of the brahminical culture and cows, would be ruined. All the demigods anticipated this danger, and therefore they went to request Lord Brahma to take immediate steps to thwart Hiranyakasipu’s plan.

In the beginning of creation, Lord Brahma was attacked by two demons—Madhu and Kaitabha—but Krsna saved him. Therefore Krsna is addressed as madhu-kaitabha-hantr. Now again, Hiranyakasipu was trying to replace Brahma. The material world is so situated that even the position of Lord Brahma, not to speak of ordinary living entities, is sometimes in danger. Nonetheless, until the time of Hiranyakasipu, no one had tried to replace Lord Brahma. Hiranyakasipu, however, was such a great demon that he maintained this ambition.

The word bhutyai means “for increasing opulence,” and the word sreyase refers to ultimately returning home, back to Godhead. In spiritual advancement, one’s material position improves at the same time that the path of liberation becomes clear and one is freed from material bondage. If one is situated in an opulent position in spiritual advancement, his opulence never decreases. Therefore such a spiritual benediction is called bhuti or vibhuti. Krsna confirms this in Bhagavad-gita (10.41). Yad yad vibhutimat sattvam. .. mama tejo-’msa-sambhavam: if a devotee advances in spiritual consciousness and thus becomes materially opulent also, his position is a special gift from the Lord. Such opulence is never to be considered material. At the present, especially on this planet earth, the influence of Lord Brahma has decreased considerably, and the representatives of Hiranyakasipu—the Raksasas and demons—have taken charge. Therefore there is no protection of brahminical culture and cows, which are the basic prerequisites for all kinds of good fortune. This age is very dangerous because society is being managed by demons and Raksasas.

SB7.3.14

TEXT 14

iti vijnapito devair

bhagavan atmabhur nrpa

parito bhrgu-daksadyair

yayau daityesvarasramam

SYNONYMS

iti—thus; vijnapitah—informed; devaih—by all the demigods; bhagavan—the most powerful; atma-bhuh—Lord Brahma, who was born from the lotus flower; nrpa—O King; paritah—being surrounded; bhrgu—by Bhrgu; daksa—Daksa; adyaih—and others; yayau—went; daitya-isvara—of Hiranyakasipu, the King of the Daityas; asramam—to the place of austerity.

TRANSLATION

O King, being thus informed by the demigods, the most powerful Lord Brahma, accompanied by Bhrgu, Daksa and other great sages, immediately started for the place where Hiranyakasipu was performing his penances and austerities.

PURPORT

Lord Brahma was waiting for the austerities performed by Hiranyakasipu to mature so that he could go there and offer benedictions according to Hiranyakasipu’s desire. Now, taking the opportunity of being accompanied by all the demigods and great saintly persons, Brahma went there to award him the benediction he desired.

SB7.3.15-16

TEXTS 15–16

na dadarsa praticchannam

valmika-trna-kicakaih

pipilikabhir acirnam

medas-tvan-mamsa-sonitam

tapantam tapasa lokan

yathabhrapihitam ravim

vilaksya vismitah praha

hasams tam hamsa-vahanah

SYNONYMS

na—not; dadarsa—saw; praticchannam—covered; valmika—by an anthill; trna—grass; kicakaih—and bamboo sticks; pipilikabhih—by the ants; acirnam—eaten all around; medah—whose fat; tvak—skin; mamsa—the flesh; sonitam—and blood; tapantam—heating; tapasa—by a severe type of penance; lokan—all the three worlds; yatha—just as; abhra—by clouds; apihitam—covered; ravim—the sun; vilaksya—seeing; vismitah—struck with wonder; praha—said; hasan—smiling; tam—to him; hamsa-vahanah—Lord Brahma, who rides a swan airplane.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma, who is carried by a swan airplane, at first could not see where Hiranyakasipu was, for Hiranyakasipu’s body was covered by an anthill and by grass and bamboo sticks. Because Hiranyakasipu had been there for a long time, the ants had devoured his skin, fat, flesh and blood. Then Lord Brahma and the demigods spotted him, resembling a cloud-covered sun, heating all the world by his austerity. Struck with wonder, Lord Brahma began to smile and then addressed him as follows.

PURPORT

The living entity can live merely by his own power, without the help of skin, marrow, bone, blood and so on, because it is said, asango’yam purusah—the living entity has nothing to do with the material covering. Hiranyakasipu performed a severe type of tapasya, austerity, for many long years. Indeed, it is said that he performed the tapasya for one hundred heavenly years. Since one day of the demigods equals six of our months, certainly this was a very long time. By nature’s own way, his body had been almost consumed by earthworms, ants and other parasites, and therefore even Brahma was at first unable to see him. Later, however, Brahma could ascertain where Hiranyakasipu was, and Brahma was struck with wonder to see Hiranyakasipu’s extraordinary power to execute tapasya. Anyone would conclude that Hiranyakasipu was dead because his body was covered in so many ways, but Lord Brahma, the supreme living being in this universe, could understand that Hiranyakasipu was alive but covered by material elements.

It is also to be noted that although Hiranyakasipu performed this austerity for a long, long time, he was nonetheless known as a Daitya and Raksasa. It will be seen from verses to follow that even great saintly persons could not perform such a severe type of austerity. Why then was he called a Raksasa and Daitya? It is because whatever he did was for his own sense gratification. His son Prahlada Maharaja was only five years old, and so what could Prahlada do? Yet simply by performing a little devotional service according to the instructions of Narada Muni, Prahlada became so dear to the Lord that the Lord came to save him, whereas Hiranyakasipu, in spite of all his austerities, was killed. This is the difference between devotional service and all other methods of perfection. One who performs severe austerities for sense gratification is fearful to the entire world. whereas a devotee who performs even a slight amount of devotional service is a friend to everyone (suhrdam sarva-bhutanam). Since the Lord is the well-wisher of every living entity and since a devotee assumes the qualities of the Lord, a devotee also acts for everyone’s good fortune by performing devotional service. Thus although Hiranyakasipu performed such a severe austerity, he remained a Daitya and a Raksasa, whereas Prahlada Maharaja, although born of the same Daitya father, became the most exalted devotee and was personally protected by the Supreme Lord. Bhakti is therefore called sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170], indicating that a devotee is freed from all material designations, and anyabhilasita-sunyam [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11], situated in a transcendental position, free from all material desires.

SB7.3.17

TEXT 17

sri-brahmovaca

uttisthottistha bhadram te

tapah-siddho ’si kasyapa

varado ’ham anuprapto

vriyatam ipsito varah

SYNONYMS

sri-brahma uvaca—Lord Brahma said; uttistha—please get up; uttistha—get up; bhadram—good fortune; te—unto you; tapah-siddhah—perfect in executing austerities; asi—you are; kasyapa—O son of Kasyapa; vara-dah—the giver of benediction; aham—I; anupraptah—arrived; vriyatam—let it be submitted; ipsitah—desired; varah—benediction.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma said: O son of Kasyapa Muni, please get up, please get up. All good fortune unto you. You are now perfect in the performance of your austerities, and therefore I may give you a benediction. You may now ask from me whatever you desire, and I shall try to fulfill your wish.

PURPORT

Srila Madhvacarya quotes from the Skanda Purana, which says that Hiranyakasipu, having become a devotee of Lord Brahma, who is known as Hiranyagarbha, and having undergone a severe austerity to please him, is also known as Hiranyaka. Raksasas and demons worship various demigods, such as Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, just to take the post of these demigods. This we have already explained in previous verses.

SB7.3.18

TEXT 18

adraksam aham etam te

hrt-saram mahad-adbhutam

damsa-bhaksita-dehasya

prana hy asthisu serate

SYNONYMS

adraksam—have personally seen; aham—I; etam—this; te—your; hrt-saram—power of endurance; mahat—very great; adbhutam—wonderful; damsa-bhaksita—eaten by worms and ants; dehasya—whose body; pranah—the life air; hi—indeed; asthisu—in the bones; serate—is taking shelter.

TRANSLATION

I have been very much astonished to see your endurance. In spite of being eaten and bitten by all kinds of worms and ants, you are keeping your life air circulating within your bones. Certainly this is wonderful.

PURPORT

It appears that the soul can exist even through the bones, as shown by the personal example of Hiranyakasipu. When great yogis are in samadhi, even when their bodies are buried and their skin, marrow, blood and so on have all been eaten, if only their bones remain they can exist in a transcendental position. Very recently an archaeologist published findings indicating that Lord Christ, after being buried, was exhumed and that he then went to Kashmir. There have been many actual examples of yogis’ being buried in trance and exhumed alive and in good condition several hours later. A yogi can keep himself alive in a transcendental state even if buried not only for many days but for many years.

SB7.3.19

TEXT 19

naitat purvarsayas cakrur

na karisyanti capare

nirambur dharayet pranan

ko vai divya-samah satam

SYNONYMS

na—not; etat—this; purva-rsayah—the sages before you, such as Bhrgu; cakruh—executed; na—nor; karisyanti—will execute; ca—also; apare—others; nirambuh—without drinking water; dharayet—can sustain; pranan—the life air; kah—who; vai—indeed; divya-samah—celestial years; satam—one hundred.

TRANSLATION

Even saintly persons like Bhrgu, born previously, could not perform such severe austerities, nor will anyone in the future be able to do so. Who within these three worlds can sustain his life without even drinking water for one hundred celestial years?

PURPORT

It appears that even if a yogi does not drink a drop of water, he can live for many, many years by the yogic process, though his outer body be eaten by ants and moths.

Next verse (SB7.3.20)