Shloka 20
Ikṣvāku-vaṃśa-prasaṅgaḥ — Genealogy of the Ikṣvāku Line and Exempla of Royal Dharma
विष्णुना च वरो दत्तो महान्पूर्व युगेऽनघ । तेजसा स्वेन ते विष्णुस्तेज आप्याययिष्यति
viṣṇunā ca varo datto mahānpūrva yuge'nagha | tejasā svena te viṣṇusteja āpyāyayiṣyati
O sinless one, in a former age a great boon was granted by Viṣṇu; and by his own divine radiance, that Viṣṇu will nourish and increase your tejas—your spiritual splendor.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s account to the sages, with the verse addressing a virtuous recipient within the story)
Tattva Level: pashu
Role: nurturing
Cosmic Event: pūrva-yuga reference (mythic prior age)
FAQs
It highlights that divine grace can manifest as the increase of tejas—inner spiritual potency—supporting dharma and steady progress toward liberation; in Shaiva understanding, such empowerments ultimately serve the soul’s return to Pati (the Lord) through purification and right practice.
Even when the verse names Viṣṇu, the Shiva Purana frames boons and empowerments as aids to spiritual maturation; increased tejas supports steadiness in worship—such as Linga-pūjā, japa of the Panchakshara, and disciplined conduct—by strengthening devotion, clarity, and tapas.
The takeaway is to cultivate tejas through regular japa (especially Om Namaḥ Śivāya), tapas with purity of conduct, and supportive Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa—practices traditionally said to protect and intensify inner spiritual radiance.