Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 84
देवा ऊचुः । धातरुत्तानपादस्य तनयेन सुवर्चसा । तपता तापिताः सर्वे त्रिलोकी तलवासिनः
devā ūcuḥ | dhātaruttānapādasya tanayena suvarcasā | tapatā tāpitāḥ sarve trilokī talavāsinaḥ
The gods said: “O Dhātṛ, by the blazing austerity of Uttānapāda’s radiant son, all who dwell across the planes of the three worlds are being scorched.”
Devas
Listener: Dvija
Scene: Devas address Brahmā: behind them, a vision of the three worlds shimmering under oppressive ascetic heat—trees wilting, rivers steaming, celestial beings shielding their faces—while the unseen ascetic’s tejas radiates like a pillar of fire.
FAQs
Tapas is a real cosmic force: sincere austerity can transform worlds, compelling even devas to respond.
The verse occurs within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s Kashi-centered sacred narrative, but it focuses on Dhruva’s tapas rather than a local tirtha.
Tapas (austerity) is referenced as the operative spiritual discipline; no specific vrata details are given here.