Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 94
यदा देवं नालुलोके मनागपि वरोन्मुखम् । तदान्यं नियमं घोरं जग्राहातीवदुःसहम्
yadā devaṃ nāluloke manāgapi varonmukham | tadānyaṃ niyamaṃ ghoraṃ jagrāhātīvaduḥsaham
ദേവൻ വരം നൽകാൻ അല്പംപോലും ഉന്മുഖനാണെന്ന് അവൻ കാണാതിരുന്നപ്പോൾ, അവൻ മറ്റൊരു ഭയങ്കര നിയമം സ്വീകരിച്ചു—അതീവ ദുസ്സഹമായ തപസ്।
Skanda (deduced, Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kshetra (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Śukra, after long worship, looks for a sign of favor but sees none; he adopts a harsher vow—his posture becomes more austere, surroundings stark, with minimal offerings and a severe atmosphere.
FAQs
When grace seems delayed, the devotee deepens discipline—steadfast tapas is praised as dharmic perseverance.
Kāśī, as the sacred setting where intense austerities aimed at Śiva’s boon are narrated and honored.
Adoption of a ghora niyama—an intensified observance/austerity—when the desired boon is not yet obtained.