देवदेव उवाच । वरं वरय संतप्त तपसा क्लेशितं वपुः । त्वयेदं बालवपुषा वशीकृतं मनो मम
devadeva uvāca | varaṃ varaya saṃtapta tapasā kleśitaṃ vapuḥ | tvayedaṃ bālavapuṣā vaśīkṛtaṃ mano mama
デーヴァデーヴァは言われた。「苦行に灼かれ、タパスにより身をやつした者よ、望む恩寵を選べ。そなたは若き姿ながら、わが心さえも捉えたのだ。」
Śiva (Devadeva)
Listener: Kumāra (a prince/devotee)
Scene: Śiva, addressed as Devadeva, speaks compassionately to a youthful yet tapas-scorched prince/ascetic, acknowledging the power of his austerity and inviting him to choose a boon.
Spiritual authority comes from sincerity and endurance in tapas, not from age or status.
Kāśī’s sacred narrative frame emphasizes the kṣetra where Śiva becomes easily propitiated.
The practice highlighted is tapas leading to varadāna (granting of boons).