पञ्चाप्सरो-सरः कथनम् तथा अगस्त्याश्रममार्गनिर्देशः
Panchapsara Lake Account and Directions to Agastya
स हि तेपे तपस्तीव्रं माण्डकर्णिर्महामुनिः।।।।दशवर्षसहस्राणि वायुभक्षो जलाश्रयः।
sa hi tepe tapas tīvraṃ māṇḍakarṇir mahāmuniḥ |
daśa-varṣa-sahasrāṇi vāyu-bhakṣo jalāśrayaḥ ||
Maka Mahāmuni Māṇḍakarṇi pun menempuh tapa yang amat dahsyat; selama sepuluh ribu tahun ia hidup hanya dari udara dan bertahan berdiri di dalam air.
Great sage Mandakarni standing in water and living on air performed rigorous penance for ten thousand years.
Dharma values self-mastery: sustained discipline and restraint are shown as legitimate means to spiritual power and public good.
The sage describes the severity and duration of Māṇḍakarṇi’s penance.
Extreme perseverance (dhṛti) and austerity (tapas).