Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 29
अद्य मे स्वतपो वृक्षो मनोरथफलैरलम् । शिवभक्त्यंबुना सिक्तः फलितोति बृहत्तरैः
adya me svatapo vṛkṣo manorathaphalairalam | śivabhaktyaṃbunā siktaḥ phalitoti bṛhattaraiḥ
Today the tree of my own austerities is fully laden with the fruits of my desires; watered by the stream of devotion to Śiva, it has borne exceedingly great fruit.
Brahmā (Vedhā) (contextual continuation)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: null
Scene: A symbolic tree labeled ‘svatapas’ stands on a Kāśī ghāṭa terrace, its roots near the Gaṅgā; a stream labeled ‘Śiva-bhakti’ waters it, and large radiant fruits appear. In the background, a Śiva shrine and devotees offering water and bilva leaves.
FAQs
Austerity becomes truly fruitful when nourished by devotion to Śiva, culminating in sacred fulfillment associated with Kāśī.
Kāśī is the implied sacred setting where Śiva-bhakti and tapas reach consummation.
No explicit rite is prescribed; the verse extols tapas and Śiva-bhakti as the spiritual means.