And burden of his state to bear,
Dwelling in far Gokarna[194] he
Engaged in long austerity.
With senses checked, with arms upraised,
Five fires[195] around and o'er him blazed.
Each weary month the hermit passed
Breaking but once his awful fast.
In winter's chill the brook his bed,
In rain, the clouds to screen his head.
Thousands of years he thus endured