Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 45
रुद्रस्यापि वयं मान्याः कीदृशं ते तपो वद । विषमस्थं यत्र विप्रं म्रियमाणमुपेक्षसि
rudrasyāpi vayaṃ mānyāḥ kīdṛśaṃ te tapo vada | viṣamasthaṃ yatra vipraṃ mriyamāṇamupekṣasi
आम्ही तर रुद्रालाही मान्य आहोत; सांग, तुझे तप कोणते असे, की संकटात असलेल्या, तुझ्यासमोर मरण पावणाऱ्या विप्राकडे तू दुर्लक्ष करतेस?
Vipra (brāhmaṇa)
Listener: Acalā/that ascetic-goddess figure
Scene: A brāhmaṇa in peril, weakened and near death, rebukes the powerful ascetic/goddess figure: ‘What tapas is this that ignores me?’ Rudra’s presence is implied as cosmic witness.
FAQs
Austerity without compassion is hollow; dharma demands protecting and aiding those in distress.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned in this verse.
Tapas (austerity) is discussed ethically—measured by compassion and duty rather than mere self-mortification.