Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 141
एकाहारा निराहारा वायुभक्षास्तथापरे । अब्भक्षाः फल भक्षाश्च शीर्णपर्णाशिनस्तथा
ekāhārā nirāhārā vāyubhakṣāstathāpare | abbhakṣāḥ phala bhakṣāśca śīrṇaparṇāśinastathā
فمنهم من يقتات بوجبةٍ واحدة في اليوم، ومنهم من لا يذوق طعامًا؛ ومنهم من يتغذّى بالهواء، ومنهم بالماء؛ ومنهم بالثمار، ومنهم من لا يأكل إلا الأوراق الذابلة.
An unnamed man (describing ascetic disciplines present at the tīrtha)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Ascetics seated in small groups under trees or in a temple courtyard, each practicing a distinct austerity: one-meal, fasting, water-only, fruit-only, leaf-only; calm faces, ash marks, rudrākṣa, begging bowls set aside.
FAQs
Restraint and tapas (austerity) are honored as supports for devotion and spiritual power at sacred places.
The verse glorifies the pilgrimage atmosphere by showing intense tapas practiced there; the site name is given in the larger context.
Forms of fasting and regulated diet (ekāhāra, nirāhāra, phalāhāra, etc.) are described as ascetic observances.