Shloka 26
अर्जुनस्य इन्द्रकीलगमनम् तथा शक्रसाक्षात्कारः
Arjuna’s journey to Indrakīla and encounter with Indra
वायुभक्षो महाबाहुरभवत् पाण्डुनन्दन: । ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्निरालम्ब: पादाड्गुष्ठाग्रविष्ठित:,तीसरा महीना पंद्रह-पंद्रह दिनमें भोजन करके बिताया। चौथा महीना आनेपर भरतश्रेष्ठ पाण्डुनन्दन महाबाहु अर्जुन केवल वायु पीकर रहने लगे। वे दोनों भुजाएँ ऊपर उठाये बिना किसी सहारेके पैरके अंगूठेके अग्रभागके बलपर खड़े रहे
vāyubhakṣo mahābāhur abhavat pāṇḍunandanaḥ | ūrdhvabāhur nirālambaḥ pādāṅguṣṭhāgravistiṭhaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The mighty-armed son of Pāṇḍu (Arjuna) began to subsist only on air. With both arms raised upward, without any support, he stood balanced on the very tip of his great toe—an austere vow displaying unwavering resolve and self-mastery in pursuit of a higher aim.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights tapas (austerity) as disciplined self-restraint: mastery over bodily needs and steadiness of posture symbolize inner resolve directed toward a higher purpose, not mere self-torture.
Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna intensifying his penance: he gives up food entirely, lives only on air, raises his arms, and stands without support on the tip of his big toe—an extreme ascetic practice undertaken to attain a desired boon/goal.