Though the virtuous-minded Brahmana Rishi remained for many years on the Shula (iron-spit) without food, yet he did not die.
शूलस्थः स तु धर्मात्मा कालेन महता ततः। निराहारोऽपि विप्रर्षिर्मरणं नाभ्यपद्यत॥