Text 18] Hiranyakasipu’s Plan to Become Immortal 145

son of Kasyapa; vara-dah—the giver of benediction; aham—I;
anupraptah—arrived; vriyatam—let it be submitted; ipsitah—desired;
varah—benediction.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahmi said: O son of KasSyapa Muni, please get up, please
get up. All good fortune unto you. You are now perfect in the per-
formance 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
Srila Madhvacarya quotes from the Skanda Purana, which says that

Hiranyakasipu, having become a devotee of Lord Brahma, who is known
as Hiranyagarbha, and having undergone a severe austerity to please
him, is also known as Hiranyaka. Raksasas and demons worship various
demigods, such as Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, just to take the post of
these demigods. This we have already explained in previous verses.

TEXT 18
WENT A TAR AeRRIT |
dyafeazee mM afay Aa 12cII

adraksam aham etam te
hrt-sararn mahad-adbhutam
damsa-bhaksita-dehasya

prana hy asthisu serate

adraksam—have personally seen; aham—I; etam—this; te—your:
hrt-séram—power of endurance; mahat—very great; adbhutam—won-
derful; damsa-bhaksita—eaten by worms and ants; dehasya—whose
body; pranah—the life air; hi—indeed; asthisu—in the bones; serate—
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
