Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 8
किंतु पूर्वं तपस्तप्त्वा रेवया बह्वनेहसम् । वरदानोन्मुखो धाता प्रार्थितश्चेति सत्तम
kiṃtu pūrvaṃ tapastaptvā revayā bahvanehasam | varadānonmukho dhātā prārthitaśceti sattama
Namun terlebih dahulu, wahai yang terbaik di antara orang saleh, Reva (Narmadā) menjalani tapa-pertapaan sangat lama; kemudian Dhātā, Brahmā Sang Pencipta yang berkenan menganugerahkan karunia, didekati dan dipanjatkan permohonan.
Skanda (contextual attribution within Kāśīkhaṇḍa: Skanda to Agastya)
Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā)
Type: river
Listener: null
Scene: Personified Revā as a radiant river-goddess performing long tapas on a riverbank/forest hermitage; Brahmā (Dhātā) appears, four-faced, lotus-seated, inclined to grant a boon.
FAQs
Persistent tapas, done with faith, prepares one to receive divine grace and boons.
The broader narrative belongs to Kāśī’s glory, though this verse focuses on Narmadā’s austerities before Brahmā.
Tapas (austerity) is emphasized as the preparatory dharmic act before seeking a boon.