Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 25
पृथ्व्यंबु तेजो वायुश्च गगनं यन्मयं विदुः । मूलप्रकृतिरूपा या सा चकारोत्तम तपः
pṛthvyaṃbu tejo vāyuśca gaganaṃ yanmayaṃ viduḥ | mūlaprakṛtirūpā yā sā cakārottama tapaḥ
जिच्यात पृथ्वी, जल, तेज, वायू व आकाश हे पञ्चभूतमय आहेत असे ज्ञाते मानतात; जी मूलप्रकृतिरूपा—तिने उत्तम तप केले।
Gālava (continuing)
Type: kshetra
Scene: The Devi is envisioned as the very fabric of the five elements—earth beneath, waters nearby, a sacrificial flame, moving wind, and vast sky—while she performs supreme austerity, unmoved amid elemental motion.
FAQs
The cosmic source itself models supreme discipline—affirming tapas as a potent, sanctifying power.
The verse is embedded in the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya narrative of the Nāgara-khaṇḍa.
Uttama-tapas (the highest austerity) is praised as the practice undertaken.