śayītāhāni bhūrīṇi
nirāhāro 'nupakramaḥ
yadi nopanayed grāso
mahāhir iva diṣṭa-bhuk
sayita -- he should remain peacefully; ahani -- days; bhurini -- for many; niraharah -- fasting; anupakramah -- without endeavor; yadi -- if; na upanayet -- does not come; grasah -- food; maha-ahih -- the great python; iva -- like; dishta -- whatever is provided by providence; bhuk -- eating.
If at any time food does not come, then a saintly person should fast for many days without making endeavor. He should understand that by God's arrangement he must fast. Thus, following the example of the python, he should remain peaceful and patient.
If by God's arrangement one is forced to suffer material hardship, then one should think, "Due to my past sinful activity I am now being punished. In this way, God is mercifully making me humble." The word sayita means one should remain peaceful and patient without mental agitation. Dishta-bhuk means one must accept the Personality of Godhead as the supreme controller and not foolishly give up one's faith due to material inconvenience. Tat te 'nukampam su-samikshamano bhunjana evatma-kritam vipakam (Bhag. 10.14.8). A devotee of the Lord always accepts material hardship as the mercy of Lord Krishna; thus he becomes eligible for supreme liberation.
