Shloka 34
Sūrya-stava: Dhaumya’s Counsel and the Aṣṭaśata-nāma of Sūrya
सो<वगाहा जलं राजा देवस्याभिमुखो5 भवत् । योगमास्थाय धर्मात्मा वायुभक्षो जितेन्द्रिय:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! पुरोहित धौम्यके इस प्रकार समयोचित बात कहनेपर ब्राह्मणोंको देनेके लिये अन्नकी प्राप्तिके उद्देश्यसे नियममें स्थित हो मनको वशमें रखकर दृढ़तापूर्वक व्रतका पालन करते हुए शुद्धचेता धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने उत्तम तपस्याका अनुष्ठान आरम्भ किया। राजा युधिष्ठिरने गंगाजीके जलमें स्नान करके पुष्प और नैवेद्य आदि उपहारोंद्वारा भगवान् दिवाकरकी पूजा की और उनके सम्मुख मुँह करके खड़े हो गये। धर्मात्मा पाण्डुकुमार चित्तको एकाग्र करके इन्द्रियोंको संयममें रखते हुए केवल वायु पीकर रहने लगे
so ’vagāhā jalaṁ rājā devasyābhimukho ’bhavat | yogam āsthāya dharmātmā vāyubhakṣo jitendriyaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The king then entered the water and bathed; facing the deity, he stood in reverent attention. Establishing himself in disciplined concentration, that righteous-souled ruler—having conquered his senses—lived on air alone, undertaking austerity as an ethical act of self-restraint and devotion.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed as disciplined self-restraint: the righteous king practices yoga-like concentration, controls the senses, and undertakes severe fasting (living on air) as an ethically grounded act of devotion and inner mastery rather than mere display.
After bathing by entering the water, the king stands facing the deity in worshipful posture. He then adopts a disciplined contemplative observance and begins an austerity in which he sustains himself only on air, demonstrating controlled senses and steadfast resolve.