When Brihadashva had gone away, he (Yudhishthira) heard that the son of Pritha Savyasachi (Arjuna) was engaged in severe asceticism, living on air. He heard this from the greatly intelligent Brahmanas and ascetics who came to him from various directions and from places of pilgrimage, from mountains and forests. He heard that the mighty Partha (Arjuna) was engaged in such fearful asceticism that none else, before him, had done it.
बृहदश्वे गते पार्थमश्रौषीत् सव्यसाचिनम्। वर्तमानं तपस्युग्रे वायुभक्षं मनीषिणम्॥ ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तपस्विभ्यः सम्पतझ्यस्ततस्ततः। तीर्थशैलवनेभ्यश्च समेतेभ्यो दृढव्रतः॥ इति पार्थो महावाहुर्दुरापं तप आस्थितः। न तथा दृष्टपूर्वोऽन्यः कश्चिदुग्रतपा इति॥