Shloka 36
वायुभक्षस्ततः पश्चाद् बहून् वर्षमणानभूत् । न चास्य क्षीयते प्राणस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्,कुछ कालके बाद वह ब्राह्मण सारे फल-मूलका भोजन छोड़कर केवल पत्ते चबाकर रहने लगा। फिर पत्तेका भी त्याग करके केवल जल पीकर निर्वाह करने लगा। तत्पश्चात् बहुत वर्षोतक वह केवल वायु पीकर रहा। फिर भी उसकी प्राणशक्ति क्षीण नहीं होती थी, यह एक अदभुत-सी बात थी
vāyubhakṣas tataḥ paścād bahūn varṣamāṇān abhūt | na cāsya kṣīyate prāṇas tad adbhutam ivābhavat ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Depois disso, por muitos anos, o brâmane viveu sustentando-se apenas de ar. Ainda assim, sua força vital não diminuiu; parecia quase algo maravilhoso.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the power of tapas (austerity) and disciplined self-restraint: through sustained ascetic practice, the mind and life-force can attain remarkable steadiness, illustrating the ethical ideal of mastery over bodily cravings.
Bhīṣma describes an ascetic brāhmaṇa who progressively renounces nourishment until he lives only on air for many years; despite this extreme austerity, his prāṇa (vital force) does not wane, which is presented as astonishing.