Shloka 131
Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga
Pulastya’s Instruction
त्वत्प्रसादान्महादेव तपो मे न क्षरेत वै । ततो देव:ः प्रह्मष्टात्मा ब्रह्मर्षिमिदमब्रवीत्,“महादेव! आपकी कृपासे मेरी तपस्या नष्ट न हो।” तब महादेवजीने प्रसन्नचित्त हो महर्षिसे कहा--
tvatprasādān mahādeva tapo me na kṣaret vai | tato devaḥ prahṛṣṭātmā brahmarṣim idam abravīt |
“O Mahādeva, by your grace may my austerity not be ruined.” Thereupon the god, his heart filled with joy, addressed the Brahmarṣi and spoke these words.
घुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Spiritual effort (tapas) is fragile when mixed with ego or anxiety; the verse frames its preservation as dependent on humility and divine grace. The aspirant seeks protection of merit, and the deity responds with pleased attention—suggesting that sincere devotion safeguards and completes ascetic endeavor.
A speaker petitions Mahādeva that his accumulated austerity not be destroyed. Mahādeva, pleased, turns to the Brahmarṣi and begins to reply, setting up a divine response (often in such contexts a reassurance, instruction, or boon) to the sage’s request.