स तेपे मन्दरद्रोण्यां तपः परमदारुणम् ।
ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्नभोदृष्टिः पादाङ्गुष्ठाश्रितावनिः ॥ २ ॥
urdhva-bahur nabho-drstih
sah-he (Hiranyakasipu); tepe-performed; mandara-dronyam-in a valley of Mandara Hill; tapah-austerity; parama-most; darunam-difficult; urdhva-raising; bahuh-arms; nabhah-toward the sky; drstih-his vision; pada-aṅgustha-with the big toes of his feet; asrita-resting on; avanih-the ground.
In the valley of Mandara Hill, Hiranyakasipu began performing his austerities by standing with his toes on the ground, keeping his arms upward and looking toward the sky. This position was extremely difficult, but he accepted it as a means to attain perfection.