Text 14] Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Siva 1037

PURPORT

The word dharma-snatah is significant, for the ten children were all
merged in the practice of religion. In addition, they possessed all good
qualities. One is supposed to be perfect when one is perfectly religious,
perfect in the execution of one’s vows to render devotional service, perfect
in knowledge, perfect in good behavior and so on. All the Pracetas were on
the same level of perfection.

TEXT 14

fearsser: sare TIASMATTT |
TAA TTATSSTRTTEAAA 112 8

pitradistah praja-sarge
tapase rnavam avisan

dasa-varsa-sahasrani
tapasarcams tapas-patim

pitra—by the father; adistah— being ordered by; praja-sarge—in the matter
of begetting children; tapase—for executing austerity; arnavam—in the
ocean; avisan—entered; dasa-varsa—ten years; sahasrani—such thousands;
tapasa—by their austerity; arcan—worshiped; tapah—of austerity; patim—
the master.

TRANSLATION

When all these Pracetas were ordered by their father to marry and beget
children, they all entered the ocean and practiced austerities and penances
for ten thousand years. Thus they worshiped the master of all austerity, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.

PURPORT

Sometimes great sages and ascetics enter the Himalayan Mountains in
order to find seclusion from the turmoil of the world. It appears, however,
that all the Pracetas, the sons of Pracinabarhi, entered the depths of the
ocean to perform austerity in a secluded place. Since they performed
austerities for ten thousand years, this incident took place in the Satya-yuga,
when people used to live for a hundred thousand years. It is also significant
that by their austerity they worshiped the master of austerity Sri Krsna,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one wants to perform austerities
and penances in order to attain the supreme goal, one must attain the favor
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one achieves the favor of the
