Text 18] Hiraṇyakaśipu's Plan to Become Immortal
145
son of Kaśyapa;  vara-daḥ —the giver of benediction;  aham —I;  anuprāptaḥ —arrived;  vriyatām —let it be submitted;  īpsitaḥ —desired;  varaḥ —benediction.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahmā said: O son of Kaśyapa 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
Śrīla Madhvācārya quotes from the  Skanda Purāṇa , which says that Hiraṇyakaśipu, having become a devotee of Lord Brahmā, who is known as Hiraṇyagarbha, and having undergone a severe austerity to please him, is also known as Hiraṇyaka. Rākṣasas and demons worship various demigods, such as Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, just to take the post of these demigods. This we have already explained in previous verses.
TEXT 18
अद्राक्षमहमेतं ते ह्रसारं महदद्भुतम् । दंशभक्षितदेहस्य प्राणा ह्यस्थिषु शेरते ॥१८॥
adrākṣam aham etam te hṛt-sāram mahad-adbhutam daṁśa-bhakṣita-dehasya prāṇā hy asthiṣu śerate
adrākṣam —have personally seen;  aham —I;  etam —this;  te —your;  hṛt-sāram —power of endurance;  mahat —very great;  adbhutam —wonderful;  daṁśa-bhakṣita —eaten by worms and ants;  dehasya —whose body;  prāṇāḥ —the life air;  hi —indeed;  asthiṣu —in the bones;  śerate —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