Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 7
महर्षिरात्मवान्पूर्वमापस्तंबो द्विजाग्रणीः । उपावसन्सदा रम्भो बभूव भगवांस्तदा
maharṣirātmavānpūrvamāpastaṃbo dvijāgraṇīḥ | upāvasansadā rambho babhūva bhagavāṃstadā
പൂർവകാലത്ത് ആത്മനിയന്ത്രണമുള്ള മഹർഷി ആപസ്തംബൻ, ദ്വിജന്മാരിൽ അഗ്രഗണ്യൻ, സദാ ഉപവാസപരായണനായിരുന്നു; ആ തപസ്സാൽ അദ്ദേഹം തേജസ്വിയും ഭഗവദ്ഭാവസമ്പന്നനുമായി.
Īśvara (Śiva) (continuing the narration)
Listener: Devī (within the frame)
Scene: Āpastamba, a venerable sage, sits in austere posture, lean from fasting, surrounded by a simple hermitage; his body emits a calm radiance signifying tapas-tejas.
FAQs
Austerity and self-restraint—especially fasting—are portrayed as producing spiritual power and sanctity.
The broader narrative belongs to Prabhāsa Kṣetra Māhātmya, even as the verse focuses on Āpastamba’s discipline.
Upavāsa (fasting/observing a fast) is highlighted as Āpastamba’s sustained practice.