Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 28
मासोपवासैः कृशितास्तथा चांद्रायणादिभिः । सदाचाराश्च ब्रह्मण्याः केन नित्यो पजीविनः । तत्सर्वमादितः कृत्स्नं ब्रूहि मे वदतां वर
māsopavāsaiḥ kṛśitāstathā cāṃdrāyaṇādibhiḥ | sadācārāśca brahmaṇyāḥ kena nityo pajīvinaḥ | tatsarvamāditaḥ kṛtsnaṃ brūhi me vadatāṃ vara
मासोपवास व चांद्रायणादी व्रतांनी ते कृश झाले होते. ते सदाचारी व ब्रह्मनिष्ठ होते; मग त्यांचा नित्य उपजीविका-निर्वाह कशाने होत असे? हे वचनश्रेष्ठा, आरंभापासून सर्व काही मला पूर्ण सांगावे.
Unspecified in snippet (questioner requesting details from the sage)
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya Kṣetra (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Ascetics thin from fasting sit near an āśrama; the questioner, moved, asks how they sustain themselves; visual contrast between austerity and the implied generosity of donors/forest produce.
FAQs
Austerity must harmonize with dharmic livelihood; sacred life includes both vrata and righteous sustenance.
Dharmāraṇya, where such vow-keeping Brāhmaṇas are portrayed as residents/guardians.
Month-long fasting (māsa-upavāsa) and the Cāndrāyaṇa observance are referenced.