Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 31
नानापक्षिगणैस्तत्र कृतनीडैः स धर्मराट् । उपविष्टे व्रतं राजन्दृश्यते नैव कुत्रचित्
nānāpakṣigaṇaistatra kṛtanīḍaiḥ sa dharmarāṭ | upaviṣṭe vrataṃ rājandṛśyate naiva kutracit
وہاں طرح طرح کے پرندوں کے جھنڈوں نے اس پر گھونسلے بنا لیے؛ وہ دھرم کا راجا بیٹھا ہی رہا—اے راجن، اس کا ورت کہیں بھی متزلزل دکھائی نہ دیا۔
Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narrator addressing a King)
Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya
Type: kshetra
Listener: Rājan (King)
Scene: The ascetic seated or standing with birds perched and nests woven into hair/shoulders; eggs visible; the forest calm, suggesting years of undisturbed stillness.
FAQs
True vrata is defined by unwavering continuity—so steady that nature itself becomes undisturbed in one’s presence.
Dharmāraṇya is the sacred setting; the verse emphasizes the sanctified forest-aura rather than a named pilgrimage spot.
Vrata-observance through sustained stillness and continuity (implied discipline rather than a specific donation or bath).