Shloka 16
तारकासुर-पूर्ववृत्त-प्रश्नः (Questions on Tārakāsura and Śivā’s tapas) / “Inquiry into Tārakāsura’s origin and Śivā–Śiva narrative”
कश्यप उवाच । तपः कुरु शुचिर्भूत्वा ब्रह्मणश्चायुतं समाः । चेद्भविष्यति तत्पूर्वं भविता ते सुतस्तदा
kaśyapa uvāca | tapaḥ kuru śucirbhūtvā brahmaṇaścāyutaṃ samāḥ | cedbhaviṣyati tatpūrvaṃ bhavitā te sutastadā
કશ્યપે કહ્યું— શુદ્ધ બની બ્રહ્માના માન પ્રમાણે દસ હજાર વર્ષ તપ કરો. તે પહેલું સિદ્ધ થાય તો ત્યાર પછી નિશ્ચયે તમને પુત્ર પ્રાપ્ત થશે.
Kaśyapa
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: Brahmā-scale time (brahmaṇaḥ samāḥ) invoked as a cosmological measure for tapas.
FAQs
The verse teaches that spiritual and worldly attainments arise from disciplined tapas grounded in śauca (purity). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such purification prepares the soul (paśu) to receive grace through right effort and inner refinement.
Though the Liṅga is not named here, the instruction to become pure and undertake sustained tapas aligns with preparatory disciplines commonly prescribed for Saguna Shiva worship—approaching Shiva with regulated conduct, purity, and sustained practice to become fit for blessings.
The explicit practice is tapas with śauca (purity). Practically, this can be supported by daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), maintaining cleanliness, and observing disciplined vows—while focusing on steadiness and self-restraint.