976 Srimad-Bhagavatam [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-asrama 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 vanaprastha stage of
life, tapasya, or austerity, is strongly recommended. Maharaja Prthu
followed exactly all the rules of vanaprastha life, which is technically
known as vatkhanasa-asrama. The word vaitkhanasa-susammate is significant
because in vanaprastha life the regulative principles are also to be strictly
followed. In other words, Maharaja Prthu was an ideal character in every
sphere of life. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah: one should follow in the
footsteps of great personalities. Thus by following the exemplary character
of Maharaja Prthu, 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.

FeRe: af Preven ATER: TH Wit

kanda-mula-phalaharah
Suskaparnasanah kvacit

ab-bhaksah katicit paksan
vayu-bhaksas tatah param

kanda—trunk; mula—roots; phala—fruits; aharah—eating; suska—dry;
parna—leaves; asanah—eating; kvacit—sometimes; ap-bhaksah—drinking
water; katicit—for several; paksan—fortnights; vayu—the air; bhaksah—
breathing; tatah param— thereafter.

TRANSLATION

In the tapo-vana, Maharaja Prthu 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.
