Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 16
देव्युवाच । परितुष्टास्मि वो वत्साः किमर्थं तप्यते तपः । वरयध्वं वरं मत्तो यः स्थितो भवतां हृदि
devyuvāca | parituṣṭāsmi vo vatsāḥ kimarthaṃ tapyate tapaḥ | varayadhvaṃ varaṃ matto yaḥ sthito bhavatāṃ hṛdi
女神は仰せになった。「愛しき子らよ、汝らを嘉しとする。この苦行は何のために行うのか。汝らの心に宿る願いのままに、我より恩寵の賜物を選べ。」
Devī
Tirtha: Arbuda (vara-prada kṣetra episode)
Type: kshetra
Scene: The Goddess addresses the Nāgas affectionately as ‘vatsāḥ’, her hand raised in boon-giving gesture; the Nāgas bow with folded hands, their faces intent; devas stand behind, the earlier music now quiet; the mountain setting frames a luminous divine audience.
FAQs
Tapas is meant to culminate in divine communion and right intention; the deity invites the devotee to articulate the heart’s true aim.
Indirectly, the Arbuda setting; the boon narrative becomes the basis for the later fame of Nāgahrada-tīrtha.
No specific rite is prescribed; the verse frames the purpose of tapas and the granting of a boon.