Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 28
पशवोपि तृणाहारं परित्यज्य हरेर्दिने । उपोषणपरा जाता अन्येषां का कथा नृणाम्
paśavopi tṛṇāhāraṃ parityajya harerdine | upoṣaṇaparā jātā anyeṣāṃ kā kathā nṛṇām
Even animals, abandoning their grass-fodder on Hari’s day, became devoted to fasting; what then need be said of other beings—especially humans?
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa narrative, typically Skanda speaking to Agastya)
Scene: Pastoral edge of the city: cows, deer, and other animals stand calmly away from grazing, while devotees process with lamps and tulasī; the atmosphere suggests a universal hush of fasting on Hari’s day.
FAQs
Association with dharma and bhakti elevates all life; humans should practice vrata even more consciously.
Kāśī’s sanctifying influence (Kāśīkhaṇḍa) that makes devotional observance natural and widespread.
Upavāsa/upoṣaṇa (fasting) on Hari’s day.