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
मासोपवासैः कृशिताः, चान्द्रायणादिव्रतैस्तथा। सदाचाराः ब्रह्मण्याः, केन नित्योपजीविनः? तत् सर्वम् आदितः कृत्स्नं मे ब्रूहि, वदतां वर।
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.