Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 44
केचिद्धूमकमश्नन्ति तपस्युग्रे व्यवस्थिताः । आत्मयज्ञरताः केचिदपरे भक्तिभागिनः
keciddhūmakamaśnanti tapasyugre vyavasthitāḥ | ātmayajñaratāḥ kecidapare bhaktibhāginaḥ
Ada yang teguh dalam tapa yang keras, hidup dengan apa yang disebut “makanan asap” (dhūmaka). Ada yang bersukacita dalam ātma-yajña, yakni persembahan batin diri; dan ada pula yang memperoleh bahagian bhakti, tekun dalam pengabdian.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (deduced)
Tirtha: Narmadā-tīra (Revākhaṇḍa)
Type: kshetra
Scene: On the Narmadā bank, different ascetics: one living on ‘smoke-food’ near a smoldering fire, another seated in meditation symbolizing ātma-yajña, and devotees offering flowers with folded hands.
FAQs
Multiple disciplines—severe tapas, inner self-sacrifice, and bhakti—are all honored as valid paths when rooted in sincerity.
The Narmadā tīra (riverbanks), depicted as a refuge for diverse sādhakas and ascetics.
No single prescription is commanded; the verse lists ascetic observances such as dhūmaka-subsistence and ātma-yajña.