Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 44
केचिद्धूमकमश्नन्ति तपस्युग्रे व्यवस्थिताः । आत्मयज्ञरताः केचिदपरे भक्तिभागिनः
keciddhūmakamaśnanti tapasyugre vyavasthitāḥ | ātmayajñaratāḥ kecidapare bhaktibhāginaḥ
ومنهم من يثبت في تَقَشُّفٍ شديد، فيقتات بما يُسمّى «طعام الدخان». ومنهم من يأنس بـ«اليَجْنا» الباطنية، أي تقديم الذات قربانًا؛ وآخرون لهم نصيب من البهاكتي، أهلُ التعبّد والمحبة.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (deduced)
Tirtha: Narmadā-tīra (Revākhaṇḍa)
Type: kshetra
Scene: On the Narmadā bank, different ascetics: one living on ‘smoke-food’ near a smoldering fire, another seated in meditation symbolizing ātma-yajña, and devotees offering flowers with folded hands.
FAQs
Multiple disciplines—severe tapas, inner self-sacrifice, and bhakti—are all honored as valid paths when rooted in sincerity.
The Narmadā tīra (riverbanks), depicted as a refuge for diverse sādhakas and ascetics.
No single prescription is commanded; the verse lists ascetic observances such as dhūmaka-subsistence and ātma-yajña.