Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 113
मूलानि चान्ये भक्षंति अन्ये वार्यंशना द्विजाः । आलोकंति स्वमन्ये च तथान्ये जलशायिनः
mūlāni cānye bhakṣaṃti anye vāryaṃśanā dvijāḥ | ālokaṃti svamanye ca tathānye jalaśāyinaḥ
ചിലർ മൂലങ്ങൾ ഭക്ഷിച്ചു; മറ്റു ചില ദ്വിജർ ജലമാത്രം ആഹാരമാക്കി. ചിലർ സ്വാത്മത്തിൽ ദൃഷ്ടി സ്ഥിരപ്പെടുത്തി; മറ്റുചിലർ ജലത്തിൽ ശയിക്കുന്ന വ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ചു।
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)
Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra (Prabhāsa)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Ascetics in varied vows: some chewing roots, some sipping only water; one group seated in meditation with steady gaze inward; others lying immersed in shallow water (jala-śāyin) near the tīrtha edge; atmosphere quiet, reflective, dawn or dusk light.
FAQs
Purity is pursued through both outer restraint (diet/vows) and inner contemplation (turning the mind toward the Self).
Vastrāpathakṣetra, portrayed as conducive to severe vows and inner realization.
Austere diets (roots, water-only) and vows such as jala-śayana (lying in water), alongside contemplative practice.