Shloka 23
Kāmyake Arjuna-viyogaḥ — The Pandavas’ despondency in Kāmyaka during Arjuna’s absence
ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तपस्वि भ्य: सम्पतद्धभधयस्ततस्तत: । तीर्थशैलवने भ्यश्व समेतेभ्यो दृढव्रत:,बृहदश्व मुनिके चले जानेपर दृढव्रती राजा युधिष्ठिरने इधर-उधरके तीर्थों, पर्वतों और वनोंसे आये हुए तपस्वी ब्राह्मणोंके मुखसे सव्यसाची अर्जुनका यह समाचार सुना कि “मनीषी अर्जुन वायुका आहार करके कठोर तपस्यामें लगे हैं। महाबाहु कुन्तीकुमार बड़ी दुष्कर तपस्यामें स्थित हैं। ऐसा कठोर तपस्वी आजसे पहले दूसरा कोई नहीं देखा गया है
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | brāhmaṇebhyas tapasyibhyaḥ sampatadbhyo yathā-tathaḥ | tīrtha-śaila-vanebhyaś ca sametebhyo dṛḍha-vrataḥ || yudhiṣṭhiraḥ rājā bṛhadaśva-muni-kule janāntarāt savyasācinam arjunam iti śuśrāva—vāyor āhāraṃ kṛtvā ghoraṃ tapaḥ kurute; mahābāhuḥ kuntīkumāro dūṣkara-tapasi vartate; na cānyo ’dya tādṛśaḥ tapasyī dṛṣṭapūrvaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: From ascetic brāhmaṇas who had arrived from various sacred fords, mountains, and forests, the firm-vowed King Yudhiṣṭhira heard this report about Arjuna, the ambidextrous archer: “The wise Arjuna is engaged in severe austerities, sustaining himself only on air. The mighty-armed son of Kuntī stands in a most difficult penance. Such a rigorous ascetic has not been seen before.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights tapas (disciplined austerity) as a means of inner strength and purpose: steadfast vows, restraint, and endurance are portrayed as ethically admirable when directed toward a higher aim.
During the forest exile, Yudhiṣṭhira receives news from visiting ascetic brāhmaṇas that Arjuna has undertaken exceptionally severe penance—living on air—in pursuit of a great objective, and that his austerity is unparalleled.