तपसा स हिदीप्तोऽभूत्त्रैलोक्यदहनात्मकः । स च वव्रे वधं दैत्यः शिशतः सप्तवासरात्
tapasā sa hidīpto'bhūttrailokyadahanātmakaḥ | sa ca vavre vadhaṃ daityaḥ śiśataḥ saptavāsarāt
En verdad, por la austeridad ardió con fulgor, con poder de abrasar los tres mundos. Y aquel demonio pidió como muerte destinada que le viniera de un simple niño de siete días.
Brahmā (Svayambhū), speaking to the Devas
Scene: A blazing ascetic demon (Tāraka) performing fierce tapas, radiating heat as if scorching the three worlds, while he petitions for a peculiar death-condition: only a seven-day-old child can slay him.
Tapas amplifies power, but without dharma it becomes destructive; divine justice often works through seemingly impossible conditions.
No tīrtha is referenced; this verse explains the boon-mechanism behind Tāraka’s downfall.
Tapas (austerity) is mentioned descriptively, not as a prescription for the listener.