tatrāpy adābhya-niyamo

tatrāpy adābhya-niyamo

vaikhānasa-susammate

ārabdha ugra-tapasi

yathā sva-vijaye purā

There, he underwent severe austerities according to the vānaprastha rules, with unbroken vows, using the same effort with which he previously achieved victory over the earth.

Just as Pṛthu performed karmas in household life to show karmīs how to act, so as a vānaprastha he performed austerities to show the vānaprasthas how to act. He engaged in severe austerities as approved by the Vaikhānasas (vānaprasthas). He was strict in his vows (adābhya-niyamaḥ). Adābhya (not deceptive) comes from the root dabh, to deceive. He did this with the same effort that he conquered the earth (sva).

|| 4.23.5 ||

kanda-mūla-phalāhāraḥ

śuṣka-parṇāśanaḥ kvacit

ab-bhakṣaḥ katicit pakṣān

vāyu-bhakṣas tataḥ param

He ate only roots like radish and fruits, and sometimes ate only dry leaves. He began drinking only water without food for several months at a time. Finally he only consumed only air.

 

|| 4.23.6 ||

grīṣme pañca-tapā vīro

varṣāsv āsāraṣāṇ muniḥ

ākaṇṭha-magnaḥ śiśire

udake sthaṇḍile-śayaḥ

In the summer he placed fires around himself in the four directions, with the sun burning overhead. During the monsoon season he tolerated the torrents of rain. During the dewy season he stood up to his neck in cold water and slept on the earth.

Pañcatapā means he places four fires around himself while the sun shone overhead. Āsāraśāṭ means he tolerated the showers. Sthaṇḍile śayaḥ means sleeping on the earth. 

|| 4.23.7 ||

titikṣur yata-vāg dānta

ūrdhva-retā jitānilaḥ

ārirādhayiṣuḥ kṛṣṇam

acarat tapa uttamam

Being tolerant, controlling words and senses, controlling sexual impulse and his life airs, his only desire being to worship Kṛṣṇa, he performed the highest austerities.

“Though his purpose was to show people the vānaprastha life, what was his intention in performing such severe austerities?” Desiring to worship Kṛṣṇa directly in the spiritual world I will do these austerities. This was his vow. It is also seen that perfect rāgātmaka-bhaktas such as Viśākha and other gopīs performed austerities to attain Kṛṣṇa, according to Vāmana Purāṇa and the śrutis.

|| 4.23.8 ||