Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 13
यदा हि तपसो वृद्धिस्तदा भक्तिर्हरौ भवेत् । तदा हि तपसो हानिर्यदा भक्तिं विना कृतम्
yadā hi tapaso vṛddhistadā bhaktirharau bhavet | tadā hi tapaso hāniryadā bhaktiṃ vinā kṛtam
തപസ്സിന്റെ വർദ്ധനവുണ്ടാകുമ്പോൾ ഹരിയിൽ ഭക്തി ഉദിക്കണം; എന്നാൽ ഭക്തിയില്ലാതെ ചെയ്ത തപസ്സ് ക്ഷയിക്കുന്നു.
Īśvara (Śiva)
Scene: Two contrasting figures: one performs harsh penance with pride and dryness; another performs moderate austerity while offering flowers to Hari, radiating devotion; the latter is shown as spiritually luminous.
FAQs
Austerity is validated by devotion; without bhakti, tapas is considered spiritually depleted.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the focus is on the inner criterion for merit.
Perform tapas together with bhakti toward Hari; avoid austerity done as mere external discipline.