Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 12
नियतो नियताहारः सर्वभूतहिते रतः । वर्षास्वाकाशवासी च हेमंते सलिलाशयः
niyato niyatāhāraḥ sarvabhūtahite rataḥ | varṣāsvākāśavāsī ca hemaṃte salilāśayaḥ
Ia teguh dalam disiplin, terukur dalam santapan, dan senantiasa mengupayakan kesejahteraan semua makhluk. Pada musim hujan ia tinggal di bawah langit terbuka, dan pada musim dingin ia berdiam di dalam air.
Sūta
Listener: Dvija-śreṣṭhas/ṛṣis
Scene: Vasiṣṭha practices seasonal austerities: standing beneath monsoon clouds without shelter, then immersed in a cold water body during winter, serene and unwavering, surrounded by forest life unharmed.
FAQs
True tapas combines self-discipline with compassion and universal welfare (sarvabhūta-hita).
Indirectly Arbuda, by portraying the ascetic power that will sanctify the region.
Ascetic observances are described: regulated diet, open-sky living in rains, and water-penance in winter.