Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 19
दुर्वासा उवाच । मुक्त्वा श्राद्धं तथा यज्ञं न मांसं भक्षयेद्द्विजः । विशेषेण व्रतस्यांते चातुर्मास्योद्भवस्य च
durvāsā uvāca | muktvā śrāddhaṃ tathā yajñaṃ na māṃsaṃ bhakṣayeddvijaḥ | viśeṣeṇa vratasyāṃte cāturmāsyodbhavasya ca
Durvāsā said: Except in the context of śrāddha and sacrifice (yajña), a twice-born man (dvija) should not eat meat—especially at the conclusion of a vow (vrata), and particularly of one connected with the Cāturmāsya observance.
Durvāsā
Listener: Unnamed king (implied)
Scene: Durvāsā speaks with authoritative calm, one hand raised in instruction; the king listens with folded hands. A symbolic calendar/monsoon cloud motif hints at Cāturmāsya discipline.
FAQs
Vrata-dharma requires restraint; violating dietary discipline, especially at vow’s completion, undermines spiritual merit.
The verse functions as dharma-instruction within a tīrtha-māhātmya narrative; the focus is on vrata purity rather than a named tīrtha.
Avoid meat for dvijas, with stated exceptions tied to śrāddha and yajña; be especially strict at the end of Cāturmāsya-related vows.