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
Menjadi susut tubuh kerana puasa sebulan penuh serta amalan seperti Cāndrāyaṇa dan yang lain, mereka berakhlak suci dan setia kepada Brahman. Dengan apakah mereka menanggung sara hidup harian? Ceritakanlah kepadaku semuanya dengan lengkap dari permulaan—wahai yang terbaik dalam kalangan penutur.
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.