Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 112
ततश्च न्यवसत्तत्र तपः कर्तुं सहर्षिभिः । ऊर्द्ध्वपादाः स्थिता विप्राः पीत्वा धूममधोमुखाः । शुष्कपत्राशनाश्चान्ये अन्ये वै फलभोजनाः
tataśca nyavasattatra tapaḥ kartuṃ saharṣibhiḥ | ūrddhvapādāḥ sthitā viprāḥ pītvā dhūmamadhomukhāḥ | śuṣkapatrāśanāścānye anye vai phalabhojanāḥ
پھر وہ رشیوں کے ساتھ تپسیا کرنے کے لیے وہیں ٹھہرا۔ کچھ برہمن پاؤں اوپر اٹھائے کھڑے رہے؛ کچھ الٹے منہ دھواں پیتے رہے؛ کچھ سوکھے پتے کھاتے تھے اور کچھ صرف پھلوں پر گزارا کرتے تھے۔
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)
Tirtha: Vastrāpatha-kṣetra (Prabhāsa)
Type: kshetra
Scene: An ascetic grove near the tīrtha: King Gaja now in simpler attire among ṛṣis; brāhmaṇas performing severe austerities—some standing on raised feet (ūrdhvapāda), some inverted drinking smoke (dhūma-pāna), others eating dry leaves; the air hazy with incense/smoke, quiet intensity.
FAQs
A holy site becomes a living āśrama when seekers adopt disciplined austerities suited to their capacity and intent.
Vastrāpathakṣetra, presented as a place where sages and brāhmaṇas intensify tapas for spiritual fruition.
Tapas through bodily disciplines and regulated diets—standing postures, dhūmapāna (smoke-drinking), and restricted foods like dry leaves or fruits.