Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 31
प्रायोपवेशनं कृत्वा ह्युपवासपरो नरः । यस्त्यजेन्मानवः प्राणान्न स भूयोऽभिजायते
prāyopaveśanaṃ kṛtvā hyupavāsaparo naraḥ | yastyajenmānavaḥ prāṇānna sa bhūyo'bhijāyate
പ്രായോപവേശനവ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ച് ഉപവാസനിഷ്ഠനായി പ്രാണത്യാഗം ചെയ്യുന്ന മനുഷ്യന് വീണ്ടും ജന്മമില്ല.
Sūta (contextual continuity)
Tirtha: Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra (implied)
Type: kshetra
Scene: An ascetic devotee seated in a tīrtha precinct near a Śiva shrine, performing prāyopaveśana with calm gaze, prayer beads, and attendants offering water and bilva leaves; the atmosphere is serene and otherworldly.
FAQs
A final, disciplined vow undertaken with religious intent is portrayed as a means to end rebirth.
The verse continues the same pilgrimage setting; it emphasizes the vow’s fruit rather than naming a new tīrtha.
Prāyopaveśana—undertaking a regulated fast culminating in relinquishing the body (presented here as a religious observance).