Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 45
रुद्रस्यापि वयं मान्याः कीदृशं ते तपो वद । विषमस्थं यत्र विप्रं म्रियमाणमुपेक्षसि
rudrasyāpi vayaṃ mānyāḥ kīdṛśaṃ te tapo vada | viṣamasthaṃ yatra vipraṃ mriyamāṇamupekṣasi
हम तो रुद्र के भी पूज्य हैं; बताओ, तुम्हारा तप कैसा है, जिसमें तुम संकट में पड़े, तुम्हारे सामने मरते हुए ब्राह्मण की उपेक्षा करती हो?
Vipra (brāhmaṇa)
Listener: Acalā/that ascetic-goddess figure
Scene: A brāhmaṇa in peril, weakened and near death, rebukes the powerful ascetic/goddess figure: ‘What tapas is this that ignores me?’ Rudra’s presence is implied as cosmic witness.
FAQs
Austerity without compassion is hollow; dharma demands protecting and aiding those in distress.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned in this verse.
Tapas (austerity) is discussed ethically—measured by compassion and duty rather than mere self-mortification.