Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 8
अंबुभक्षो वायुभक्षः शीर्णपर्णाशनस्तथा । दिव्यं वर्षशतं साग्रं यदा तेपे महत्तपः । ततस्तुतोष भगवांस्त्रिशूलवरधारकः
aṃbubhakṣo vāyubhakṣaḥ śīrṇaparṇāśanastathā | divyaṃ varṣaśataṃ sāgraṃ yadā tepe mahattapaḥ | tatastutoṣa bhagavāṃstriśūlavaradhārakaḥ
ഒരിക്കൽ ജലാഹാരിയായി, പിന്നെ വായുവേ ആഹാരമായി, അതുപോലെ ഉണങ്ങിയ ഇലകൾ ഭക്ഷിച്ചുകൊണ്ട്, അവൻ നൂറിലധികം ദിവ്യവർഷങ്ങൾ മഹത്തായ തപസ്സു ചെയ്തു. തുടർന്ന് ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ത്രിശൂലധാരിയായ ഭഗവാൻ പ്രസന്നനായി।
Sūta
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Sequence-like depiction of the Daitya’s austerity: first sipping only water, then surviving on air, then eating withered leaves; time passes (celestial years). Finally Śiva appears, trident in hand, pleased.
FAQs
Steadfast austerity and restraint, sustained over time, is depicted as capable of drawing divine grace—even from the trident-bearing Lord.
No named tīrtha appears in this verse; it focuses on ascetic practice and Śiva’s satisfaction.
Ascetic disciplines are described: subsisting on water, air, and withered leaves, sustained for ‘divine years’ as a form of tapas.