Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.3.23
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesRejuvenation Through Severe Austerity
“As soon as he was sprinkled with the water from Lord Brahmā’s waterpot, Hiraṇyakaśipu arose, endowed with a full body with limbs so strong that they could bear the striking of a thunderbolt. With physical strength and a bodily luster resembling molten gold, he emerged from the anthill a completely young man, just as fire springs from fuel wood.”
What the purport teaches
- Sprinkled with water from Lord Brahmā’s waterpot, Hiraṇyakaśipu arose from the anthill with his body fully restored.
- His limbs were strong enough to tolerate the striking of thunderbolts. He appeared as a young man with a beautiful luster resembling molten gold.
- Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this rejuvenation took place because of his severe austerity and penance.
Try this today
Read the translation slowly and note three ways it describes Hiraṇyakaśipu’s restored body.
Ask yourself
What strikes you about the extent of Hiraṇyakaśipu’s bodily restoration?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.