Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 26
त्यजेदं दुष्करं घोरं तपो मद्वचनाद्द्रुतम् । स यदा ब्रह्मणा प्रोक्तो ब्रह्मर्षि स्त्वमसंशयम्
tyajedaṃ duṣkaraṃ ghoraṃ tapo madvacanāddrutam | sa yadā brahmaṇā prokto brahmarṣi stvamasaṃśayam
«Abandonne sur-le-champ cette austérité difficile et redoutable, sur ma parole.» Lorsque Brahmā lui parla ainsi — «Tu es un Brahmarṣi, sans aucun doute» — son rang fut confirmé.
Brahmā (direct speech within narration)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Brahmā speaks with gentle authority, raising a hand in blessing and injunction; the ascetic-king relaxes from severe tapas posture, receiving assurance ‘without doubt’ of Brahmarṣi status; the atmosphere shifts from harsh austerity to calm peace.
FAQs
Austerity is a means, not an end; when realization is acknowledged by divine authority, excessive hardship is to be relinquished.
Not explicit in this verse; the chapter’s larger Tīrthamāhātmya later situates events around Hāṭakeśvara and Śaṅkhatīrtha.
Tapas (austerity) is referenced, along with the instruction to cease it upon Brahmā’s command.