Indratīrtha–Ādityatīrtha: Balarāma’s Ritual Bathing, Dāna, and Sacred-Historical Recollections
तपश्चचार सात्युग्रं नियमैर्बहुभिर्वृता । भर्ता मे देवराज: स्यादिति निश्चित्य भामिनी
tapaś cacāra sātyugraṁ niyamair bahubhir vṛtā | bhartā me devarājaḥ syād iti niścitya bhāminī ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Ceñida por muchas observancias estrictas, la fogosa dama emprendió austeridades sumamente severas. Fijó su determinación en un solo fin: «Que Indra, rey de los dioses, sea mi esposo».
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights the power of disciplined austerity (tapas) guided by firm resolve (niścaya). Ethically, it also foregrounds that spiritual practices are shaped by intention—here, intense discipline is directed toward a personal desire, showing how motivation influences the moral and narrative meaning of tapas.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a spirited woman undertakes extremely severe austerities, adopting many strict observances, with a clearly determined goal: to obtain Indra, the king of the gods, as her husband.