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 ||
स हि माण्डकर्णिर्महामुनिस्ते तपस्तीव्रं तेपे। दशवर्षसहस्राणि वायुभक्षो जलाश्रयः स्थित्वा तपश्चर्यां चकार॥
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).