976
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 4, Ch. 23]
PURPORT
As it is necessary for one to become very active in family life, similarly, after retirement from family life, it is necessary to control the mind and senses. This is possible when one engages himself fully in the devotional service of the Lord. Actually the whole purpose of the Vedic system, the Vedic social order, is to enable one to ultimately return home, back to Godhead. The  grhastha-āśrama  is a sort of concession combining sense gratification with a regulative life. It is to enable one to easily retire in the middle of life and engage fully in austerities in order to transcend material sense gratification once and for all. Therefore in the  vānaprastha  stage of life,  tapasya , or austerity, is strongly recommended. Mahārāja Pṛthu followed exactly all the rules of  vānaprastha  life, which is technically known as  vaikhānasa-āśrama . The word  vaikhānasa-susammate  is significant because in  vānaprastha  life the regulative principles are also to be strictly followed. In other words, Mahārāja Pṛthu was an ideal character in every sphere of life.  Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ : one should follow in the footsteps of great personalities. Thus by following the exemplary character of Mahārāja Pṛthu, one can become perfect in all respects while living this life or while retiring from active life. Thus after giving up this body, one can become liberated and go back to Godhead.
TEXT 5
कन्दमूलफलाहारः शुष्कपर्णाशनः कचित् ।  
 अब्भक्षः कतिचित्पक्षान् वायुभक्षस्ततः परम् ॥ ५ ॥
kanda-mūla-phalāhāraḥ 
  śuṣkaparṇāśanaḥ kvacit 
  ab-bhakṣaḥ katicit pakṣān 
  vāyu-bhakṣas tataḥ param
kanda-trunk; mūla-roots; phala-fruits; āhāraḥ-eating; śuṣka-dry; parṇa-leaves; āśanaḥ-eating; kvacit-sometimes; ap-bhakṣaḥ-drinking water; katicit-for several; pakṣān-fortnights; vāyu-the air; bhakṣaḥ-breathing; tataḥ param-thereafter.
TRANSLATION
In the tapo-vana, Mahārāja Pṛthu sometimes ate the trunks and roots of trees, and sometimes he ate fruit and dried leaves, and for some weeks he drank only water. Finally he lived simply by breathing air.