Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 27
तपसा स हिदीप्तोऽभूत्त्रैलोक्यदहनात्मकः । स च वव्रे वधं दैत्यः शिशतः सप्तवासरात्
tapasā sa hidīpto'bhūttrailokyadahanātmakaḥ | sa ca vavre vadhaṃ daityaḥ śiśataḥ saptavāsarāt
তপস্যাবলে সে দীপ্ত হয়ে উঠল, যেন ত্রিলোক দগ্ধ করার শক্তিসম্পন্ন। সেই দৈত্য বর চাইল—সাত দিনের শিশুর হাতেই তার মৃত্যু হোক।
Brahmā (Svayambhū), speaking to the Devas
Scene: A blazing ascetic demon (Tāraka) performing fierce tapas, radiating heat as if scorching the three worlds, while he petitions for a peculiar death-condition: only a seven-day-old child can slay him.
FAQs
Tapas amplifies power, but without dharma it becomes destructive; divine justice often works through seemingly impossible conditions.
No tīrtha is referenced; this verse explains the boon-mechanism behind Tāraka’s downfall.
Tapas (austerity) is mentioned descriptively, not as a prescription for the listener.