Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 43
गृहीत्वा नियमं तोयबिंदुं वर्षशतेऽग्निवत् । ततो वर्षशते याते जपतस्तस्य भारत
gṛhītvā niyamaṃ toyabiṃduṃ varṣaśate'gnivat | tato varṣaśate yāte japatastasya bhārata
ನೀರಿನ ಒಂದೇ ಹನಿಯನ್ನು ಮಾತ್ರ ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಿ ಅವನು ಕಠೋರ ನಿಯಮವನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿದನು. ಅಗ್ನಿಯಂತೆ ತೇಜಸ್ವಿಯಾಗಿ ಶತವರ್ಷಗಳವರೆಗೆ ಜಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥಿರನಾಗಿದ್ದನು, ಹೇ ಭಾರತ।
Narrative voice addressing 'Bhārata' (Maheshvara Khanda context: Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa relating events)
Listener: Bhārata
Scene: The ascetic remains unmoving for a hundred years, sustained by a mere drop of water, surrounded by a subtle aura of heat like a steady flame; seasons pass around him—rain, sun, and wind—while his japa continues.
FAQs
Long, disciplined austerity (niyama) combined with japa is presented as a powerful path to spiritual fruition.
The tīrtha context continues from the surrounding narrative, but this verse itself focuses on the vow and duration rather than naming the site.
A niyama of consuming only a drop of water (toyabindu) while maintaining japa for an extended period.