PLATE FOUR

Lord Brahma, who is carried by a swan airplane, at first could not see
where Hiranyakasipu was, for Hiranyakasipu’s body was covered by an
anthill and by grass and bamboo sticks. Because Hiranyakasipu had been
there for a long time, the ants had devoured his skin, fat, flesh and
blood. Then Lord Brahma spotted him, resembling a cloud-covered sun,
heating all the world by his austerity. Struck with wonder, Lord Brahma
smiled and then addressed him as follows: “‘O son of Kasyapa 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 won-
derful. 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 Brahma, the original being of this universe, who is
extremely powerful, then sprinkled transcendental, infallible, spiritual
water from his waterpot upon Hiranyakasipu’s body, which had been
eaten away by ants and moths. Hiranyakasipu arose, endowed with a full
body with limbs so strong that they could bear the striking of a thunder-
bolt. With physical strength and a bodily luster resembling molten gold,
he emerged from the anthill a completely young man. (pp. 142-150)
