SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM - Prabhupada

Text 16] Hiryak&Sipu's Plan to Become Immortal 143marilsa-the flesh; soitam-and blood; tapantam-heating; tapasiibya severe type of penance; lokiin-all the three worlds; yathii-justas; abhra-by clouds; apihitam-covered; ravim-the sun; vilayaseeing;vismita-struck with wonder; priiha-said; hasan-smiling;tam-to him; harilsa-viihana-Lord Brahma, who rides a swanairplane.TRANSLATIONLord Brahma, who is carried by a swan airplane, at first couldnot see where Hiryakasipu was, for Hiryak&Sipu's body wascovered by an anthill and by grass and bamboo sticks. BecauseHiryak&Sipu had been there for a long time, the ants haddevoured his skin, fat, flesh and blood. Then Lord Brahmii and thedemigods spotted him, resembling a cloud-covered sun, heatingall the world by his austerity. Struck with wonder, Lord Brahmiibegan to smile and then addressed him as follows.PURPORTThe living entity can live merely by his own power, without the helpof skin, marrow, bone, blood and so on, because it is said, asarigo yampua-the living entity has nothing to do with the material covering.Hira1.1yakasipu performed a severe type of tapasya, austerity, for manylong years. Indeed, it is said that he performed the tapasya for onehundred heavenly years. Since one day of the demigods equals six of ourmonths, certainly this was a very long time. By nature's own way, hisbody had been almost consumed by earthworms, ants and other parasites,and therefore even Brahma was at first unable to see him. Later,however, Brahrna could ascertain where Hira1.1yakasipu was, and Brahmawas struck with wonder to see Hira1.1yakasipu's extraordinary power toexecute tapasya. Anyone would conclude that Hira1.1yakasipu was deadbecause his body was covered in so many ways, but Lord Brahma, thesupreme living being in this universe, could understand thatHira1.1yakasipu was alive but covered by material elements.It is also to be noted that although HiraQyakasipu performed thisausterity for a long, long time, he was nonetheless known as a Daitya andRak!?asa. It will be seen from verses to follow that even great saintly personscould not perform such a severe type of austerity. Why then was he