For twelve days he lived on air and water. He performed ablutions for day and for night; he surrounded himself with fire kindled on all sides. Thus did that greatest of all virtuous men engaged himself in asceticism,
स द्वादशाहं जलवायुभक्षः। कुर्वन् क्षपाहःसु तदाभिषेकम्। समन्ततोऽग्नीनुपदीपयित्वा तेपे तपोधर्मभृतां वरिष्ठः॥