PLATE FOUR
Lord Brahmā, who is carried by a swan airplane, at first could not see where Hiraṇyakaśipu was, for Hiraṇyakaśipu's body was covered by an anthill and by grass and bamboo sticks. Because Hiraṇyakaśipu had been there for a long time, the ants had devoured his skin, fat, flesh and blood. Then Lord Brahmā spotted him, resembling a cloud-covered sun, heating all the world by his austerity. Struck with wonder, Lord Brahmā smiled and then addressed him as follows: "O son of Kaśyapa Muni, please get up! 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. Who within these three worlds can sustain his life for one hundred celestial years without even drinking water? O best of the demons, I am now prepared to give you all benedictions, according to your desire." Lord Brahmā, the original being of this universe, who is extremely powerful, then sprinkled transcendental, infallible, spiritual water from his waterpot upon Hiraṇyakaśipu's body, which had been eaten away by ants and moths. Hiraṇyakaśipu arose, endowed with a full body with limbs so strong that they could bear the striking of a thunderbolt. With physical strength and a bodily luster resembling molten gold, he emerged from the anthill a completely young man. ( pp. 142-150 )