Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 112
ततश्च न्यवसत्तत्र तपः कर्तुं सहर्षिभिः । ऊर्द्ध्वपादाः स्थिता विप्राः पीत्वा धूममधोमुखाः । शुष्कपत्राशनाश्चान्ये अन्ये वै फलभोजनाः
tataśca nyavasattatra tapaḥ kartuṃ saharṣibhiḥ | ūrddhvapādāḥ sthitā viprāḥ pītvā dhūmamadhomukhāḥ | śuṣkapatrāśanāścānye anye vai phalabhojanāḥ
Puis il demeura là avec les ṛṣi pour pratiquer l’ascèse. Certains brāhmanes se tenaient debout, les pieds levés; d’autres buvaient la fumée, la tête en bas; d’autres se nourrissaient de feuilles sèches, et d’autres encore vivaient de fruits.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)
Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra (Prabhāsa)
Type: kshetra
Scene: An ascetic grove near the tīrtha: King Gaja now in simpler attire among ṛṣis; brāhmaṇas performing severe austerities—some standing on raised feet (ūrdhvapāda), some inverted drinking smoke (dhūma-pāna), others eating dry leaves; the air hazy with incense/smoke, quiet intensity.
FAQs
A holy site becomes a living āśrama when seekers adopt disciplined austerities suited to their capacity and intent.
Vastrāpathakṣetra, presented as a place where sages and brāhmaṇas intensify tapas for spiritual fruition.
Tapas through bodily disciplines and regulated diets—standing postures, dhūmapāna (smoke-drinking), and restricted foods like dry leaves or fruits.