It is an interpolated story that Jayadratha performed severe austerities on Shiva and got a boon.
a) It is interesting to note that it was not clearly mentioned in the above interpolated story as to how many years/months/days Jayadratha performed severe austerities on Shiva. It was simply stated that Jayadratha performed severe austerieis, and Shiva appeared and gave the boon.
Thus addressed by Yudhishthira, the prince, O Bharata, was overpowered with shame, and bending down his head, he silently and sorrowfully wended his way to the place where the Ganga debouches on the plains. And imploring the protection of the god of three eyes, the consort of Uma, he did severe penance at that place.
b) This incident occurred while the major portion of 12 years period of exile was completed and Ghosha Yatra episode and before Yaksha Prasna episode. And, after 1 year period, Pandavas completed the 1 year period in Virata’s country, living incognito.
It is not a small feat to perform severe austerities on Shiva, as subsequent puranas say that many rishis/demons performed severe austerities, for many years.
c) Then, how was Shiva satisfied by Jayadratha’s austerities done for a shorter period?
And the three-eyed god, pleased with his austerities deigned to accept his offerings in person.
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d) And, Shiva gave him boon that except Arjuna, Jayadratha would be able defeat the remaining 4 Pandavas for 1 day.
Arjuna is protected by Krishna the possessor of these attributes. That glorious and lotus-eyed Being of infinite power, that slayer of hostile heroes, riding in the same chariot with Pritha's son, protecteth him! He is, therefore, invincible; the very gods cannot resist his power, still less can one with human attributes vanquish the son of Pritha in battle!
Therefore, O king, thou must let him alone! Thou shalt, however, be able to vanquish for a single day only, the rest of Yudhishthira's forces along with thine enemies--the four sons of Pandu!"
e) It is quite common that occasionally a person would outperform himself, which may surprise everyone. It doesn’t mean to say that that person would perform everyday in that fashion.
If we carefully study the 13th day of the war, we can find two strange issues.
1. While Abhimanyu’s marvelous feat inside the Chakra Vyuha, ie., defeating Karna, Duryodhana, Ashwatthama, etc, is consistent with his previous feats, forcing a great warrior like Drona to retreat is exceptional, that too in the midst of many great warriors from Kaurava’s side.
2. Similarly, at the entrance of the gap created by Abhimanyu, Jayadratha stood like a solid wall and obstructed every warrior from Pandava’s side. It is exceptional, not consistent with his ordinary performance in other days. Apart from his skill in using weapons, sheer luck favoured him on that day. That is all.
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In view of the above, I consider that the story of Jayadratha performing severe austerities on Shiva and getting a boon, is an interpolation.
