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
देवी म्हणाली—हे वत्सांनो, मी तुमच्यावर प्रसन्न आहे. हे तप कोणत्या हेतूने केले जात आहे? तुमच्या हृदयात जो वर स्थिर आहे, तो माझ्याकडून मागा.
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.