ब्रह्मोवाच । तपसो न परं किंचित्तपो हि महतां धनम् । तपसा प्राप्यते सर्वं तपोयोग्योऽसि पुत्रक
brahmovāca | tapaso na paraṃ kiṃcittapo hi mahatāṃ dhanam | tapasā prāpyate sarvaṃ tapoyogyo'si putraka
Brahmā bersabda: Tiada yang lebih tinggi daripada tapa (pertapaan); tapa adalah kekayaan para mahātmā. Dengan tapa segala sesuatu dicapai. Wahai putraku terkasih, engkau layak menempuh tapa.
Brahmā
Listener: Vajrāṅga (addressed as ‘putraka’/son)
Scene: Brahmā, serene and four-faced, instructs a young aspirant (Vajrāṅga) on the supremacy of tapas; a quiet hermitage atmosphere with sacrificial fire and palm-leaf manuscripts.
Tapas is presented as the supreme spiritual capital—greater than kingship—through which all worthy attainments become possible.
No tīrtha is specified; the verse functions as a universal Purāṇic doctrine praising tapas.
Tapas itself is the prescription—undertaking disciplined austerity as a means to spiritual and worldly attainment.