SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM - Prabhupada

136 Srimad-Bhagavatam[Canto 7, Ch. 3tad aham vardhamanenatapo-yoga-samddhiookiilatmanos ca nityatvatsiidhayi§ye tatluitmanaiJ,smoo-creating; cam-moving; acaram-and not moving; idamthis;tapaiJ,-of austerity; yoga-and mystic power; samddhioo-bypracticing the trance; adhyaste-is situated in; sarva-dhyebhyaiJ,thanall the planets, including the heavenly planets; parame!hi-LordBrahma; nija-asanam -his own throne; tat-therefore; aham-1;vardhamanena-by dint of increasing; tapaiJ,-austerity; yoga-mysticpowers; samddhioo-and trance; kala-of time; atmanoiJ,-and of thesoul; ca-and; nityatvat-from the eternality; siidhayye-shallachieve; tatlui-so much; atmanaiJ,-for my personal self.TRANSLATION"The supreme person within this universe, Lord Brahmi, hasgotten his exalted post by dint of severe austerities, mystic powerand trance. Consequently, after creating the universe, he has becomethe most worshipable demigod within it. Since I am eternaland time is eternal, I shall endeavor for such austerity, mysticpower and trance for many, many births, and thus I shall occupythe same post occupied by Lord Brahmi.PURPORTHiraQyakasipu's determination was to occupy the post of LordBrahma, but this was impossible because Brahma has a long duration oflife. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (8.17), sahasra-yuga-paryantamahar yad brahmar:w viduiJ,: one thousand yugas equals one day ofBrahma. The duration of Brahma's life is extremely great, and consequentlyit was impossible for HiraQyaka8ipu to occupy that post. Nonetheless,his decision was that since the self (atma) and time are botheternal, if he could not occupy that post in one lifetime he would continueto execute austerities life after life so that sometime he would beable to do so.