Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 34
हरिस्वापे नरो नित्यमेकभक्तं समाचरेत् । दिवसेदिवसे तस्य द्वादशाहफलं लभेत्
harisvāpe naro nityamekabhaktaṃ samācaret | divasedivase tasya dvādaśāhaphalaṃ labhet
Pada waktu Hari bersemayam dalam tidur suci, seseorang hendaklah sentiasa mengamalkan ekabhakta, yakni makan sekali sahaja sehari. Hari demi hari, dia memperoleh pahala yang setara dengan laku tapa dua belas hari.
Skanda (deduced from Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narrative style)
Scene: A devotee takes a single modest meal before sunset, then offers lamp and tulasī to Hari; a celestial ledger shows ‘12-day merit’ stamped each day during Hari’s sleep.
FAQs
Consistent moderation in diet during sacred time multiplies merit and strengthens devotion.
The verse praises a vrata linked to Hariśayana rather than a named pilgrimage site.
Ekabhakta—eating once daily—throughout the period of Hari’s śayana.