मुद्गल उवाच । अश्रुतैस्तैर्न गच्छेऽहमेतन्मे हृदि निश्चितम् । करिष्येऽहं तपो भूरि पूजयिष्ये महेश्वरम्
mudgala uvāca | aśrutaistairna gacche'hametanme hṛdi niścitam | kariṣye'haṃ tapo bhūri pūjayiṣye maheśvaram
Mudgala berkata: “Tanpa mendengar hal-hal itu, aku tidak akan pergi—ini telah teguh di hatiku. Aku akan menjalani tapa yang besar dan memuja Maheśvara (Śiva).”
Mudgala
Listener: Devadūta
Scene: Mudgala, eyes steady, declares his vow: he will perform great austerity and worship Maheśvara; a subtle vision of Śiva-linga or Śiva’s presence appears as the inner goal.
The highest aspiration is not mere heavenly enjoyment but devotion and tapas directed to Maheśvara, grounded in firm resolve and discernment.
The verse highlights Śiva-worship within the Arbuda sacred narrative setting; the exact tīrtha is contextual (Māmuhrada/āśrama region).
Tapas (austerity) and pūjā (worship) of Maheśvara are explicitly stated.