Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 20
ब्रह्मणा चापि ब्रह्मत्वं प्राप्तं किलतपोबलात् । अन्यैरपि च यल्लब्धं तन्नसंख्यातुमुत्सहे
brahmaṇā cāpi brahmatvaṃ prāptaṃ kilatapobalāt | anyairapi ca yallabdhaṃ tannasaṃkhyātumutsahe
“Even Brahmā attained Brahmāhood, it is said, through the power of austerity (tapas). What others too have gained by it—I do not venture to count.”
Śrī Devī
Scene: Brahmā in deep austerity on a lotus, surrounded by a radiance of tapas (tejas) rising like flames; distant silhouettes of other sages whose attainments are ‘uncountable’.
FAQs
Tapas is celebrated as a transformative power capable of granting even the highest stations and spiritual accomplishments.
No particular sacred site is named; the verse glorifies tapas itself.
Austerity (tapas) is upheld as the effective means; no single vow-form is specified.