Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 51
श्रुतिमेव सदाभ्यस्येत्तपस्तप्तुं द्विजोत्तमः । श्रुत्यभ्यासो हि विप्रस्य परमं तप उच्यते
śrutimeva sadābhyasyettapastaptuṃ dvijottamaḥ | śrutyabhyāso hi viprasya paramaṃ tapa ucyate
Que el mejor de los dos veces nacidos practique siempre la Śruti si desea realizar tapas; pues la constante recitación de la Śruti se declara el tapas supremo para un brāhmaṇa.
Skanda
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A brāhmaṇa elder at dawn performing sandhyā, then seated to chant Śruti with precise hand-gestures (mudrā-like counting), students listening; the austerity is shown as a radiant heat (tapas) emanating from the recitation itself.
FAQs
True austerity is not only physical hardship but sustained sacred learning and recitation that refines the mind.
The verse is situated in Kāśī Khaṇḍa, reinforcing Kāśī as a seat of śruti, learning, and dharmic discipline.
A prescription for continual Śruti practice (svādhyāya) as the highest form of tapas for a vipra.