Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 31
नानापक्षिगणैस्तत्र कृतनीडैः स धर्मराट् । उपविष्टे व्रतं राजन्दृश्यते नैव कुत्रचित्
nānāpakṣigaṇaistatra kṛtanīḍaiḥ sa dharmarāṭ | upaviṣṭe vrataṃ rājandṛśyate naiva kutracit
അവിടെ പല പക്ഷിസമൂഹങ്ങളും അവന്റെ മേൽ കൂടുകൾ കെട്ടി; ആ ധർമ്മരാജൻ ഇരുന്നുതന്നെ നിന്നു—ഹേ രാജാവേ, അവന്റെ വ്രതം എവിടെയും കുലുങ്ങിയതായി കണ്ടില്ല.
Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narrator addressing a King)
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya
Type: kshetra
Listener: Rājan (King)
Scene: The ascetic seated or standing with birds perched and nests woven into hair/shoulders; eggs visible; the forest calm, suggesting years of undisturbed stillness.
FAQs
True vrata is defined by unwavering continuity—so steady that nature itself becomes undisturbed in one’s presence.
Dharmāraṇya is the sacred setting; the verse emphasizes the sanctified forest-aura rather than a named pilgrimage spot.
Vrata-observance through sustained stillness and continuity (implied discipline rather than a specific donation or bath).