Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4
ततः परं जलाहारो जातो वर्षशतं हि सः । वायुभक्षस्ततोऽभूत्स यावद्वर्षशतं परम्
tataḥ paraṃ jalāhāro jāto varṣaśataṃ hi saḥ | vāyubhakṣastato'bhūtsa yāvadvarṣaśataṃ param
اس کے بعد وہ سو برس تک صرف پانی کو غذا بنائے رہا؛ پھر مزید سو برس تک وायु بھکش، یعنی ہوا ہی کو آہار بنانے والا ہو گیا۔
Sūta (narration continues)
Type: kshetra
Scene: The ascetic king by a water source, then later seated unmoving as if sustained by breath alone; body emaciated yet radiant; air currents and subtle aura indicate vāyubhakṣa state.
FAQs
Progressive renunciation symbolizes increasing inwardness—each step reduces dependence and intensifies devotion toward Śiva.
The austerity takes place within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra narrative frame of Nāgara Khaṇḍa’s Tīrthamāhātmya.
A graded tapas-vrata: water-only subsistence (jalāhāra) followed by extreme restraint (vāyubhakṣa).