Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 5
ततः कालेन महता तुष्टस्तस्य महेश्वरः । अब्रवीद्वृणु भद्रं ते वरं यत्ते हृदिस्थितम्
tataḥ kālena mahatā tuṣṭastasya maheśvaraḥ | abravīdvṛṇu bhadraṃ te varaṃ yatte hṛdisthitam
Après un long temps, Mahéśvara fut satisfait de lui et dit : « Que le bien soit sur toi ; choisis le don qui demeure en ton cœur. »
Pulastya (narrating Śiva’s response)
Tirtha: Arbudācala
Type: cave
Scene: Mahēśvara manifests at the cave entrance or within the cavern, radiant and calm, addressing the tapasvin with a blessing gesture, offering a boon.
FAQs
Sincere austerity culminates in īśvara-anugraha (divine grace), where the devotee’s inner intention becomes the basis for a boon.
The narrative supports the sanctity of the Arbuda/Candrodbheda setting by showing Śiva’s direct intervention there.
No explicit ritual is prescribed; the verse highlights tapas leading to Śiva’s satisfaction.