Shloka 6.35.22
माल्यवानुपदेशः — Malyavan’s Counsel, Portents in Laṅkā, and the Proposal of Alliance
तेषुतेषुचदेशेषुपुण्येष्वेवदृढव्रतैः ।।।।चर्यमाणंतपस्तीव्रंसन्तापयतिराक्षसान् ।
teṣu teṣu ca deśeṣu puṇyeṣv eva dṛḍhavrataiḥ |
caryamāṇaṃ tapas tīvraṃ santāpayati rākṣasān ||
In those many regions—especially in sacred places—the intense austerity practiced by the firm-vowed ascetics scorches and torments the Rakshasas.
"The intense austerities performed by the sages in different regions determined firmly are tormenting the Rakshasas."
Steady vows and self-discipline uphold dharma; inner restraint becomes a force that checks हिंसा (harm) and adharmic powers.
The poem explains why Rakshasas are distressed: the sages’ austerities across sacred regions exert a painful spiritual pressure on them.
Dṛḍha-vrata—unbroken commitment to vows and disciplined practice.