Shloka 2
Nārada Instructs Prācīnabarhiṣat: The Purañjana Narrative Begins
City of Nine Gates
रुद्रगीतं भगवत: स्तोत्रं सर्वे प्रचेतस: । जपन्तस्ते तपस्तेपुर्वर्षाणामयुतं जले ॥ २ ॥
rudra-gītaṁ bhagavataḥ stotraṁ sarve pracetasaḥ japantas te tapas tepur varṣāṇām ayutaṁ jale
All the Pracetā princes stood in the water for ten thousand years, continuously chanting the hymn of praise given to them by Lord Rudra (Śiva).
Of course in the modern age one may be amazed how the princes could stand in the water for ten thousand years. However, living within air or living within water is the same process; one simply has to learn how to do it. The aquatics live within water for their whole life span. Certain favorable conditions are created to enable them to live within water. In those days, however, people used to live for one hundred thousand years. Out of so many years, if one could spare ten thousand years for the sake of austerity, he would be assured of success in his future life. This was not very astonishing. Although such a feat is impossible in this age, it was quite possible in Satya-yuga.
FAQs
Rudra-gīta is a hymn spoken by Lord Śiva (Rudra) glorifying the Supreme Lord; the Pracetās take it up as their prayer and chant it as part of their devotional austerity.
Following the devotional instruction connected with Rudra’s hymn, they undertook intense, prolonged austerity while chanting, to attain the Supreme Lord’s favor and spiritual perfection.
Adopt steady daily japa (consistent recitation of a sacred prayer or holy name) along with disciplined living—regularity, restraint, and devotion—rather than seeking quick results.