कन्दमूलफलाहार: शुष्कपर्णाशन: क्वचित् । अब्भक्ष: कतिचित्पक्षान् वायुभक्षस्तत: परम् ॥ ५ ॥
kanda-mula-phalaharah suska-parnasanah kvacit ab-bhaksah katicit paksan vayu-bhaksas tatah param
- kanda
- trunk
- mula
- roots
- phala
- fruits
- aharah
- eating
- suska
- dry
- parna
- leaves
- asanah
- eating
- kvacit
- sometimes
- ap-bhaksah
- drinking water
- katicit
- for several
- paksan
- fortnights
- vayu
- the air
- bhaksah
- breathing
- tatah param
- thereafter.
In the tapo-vana, Maharaja Prthu sometimes ate the trunks and roots of trees, and sometimes he ate fruit and dried leaves, and for some weeks he drank only water. Finally he lived simply by breathing air.