Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
अलकापतेः तपः-लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा च वरप्राप्तिः / The Lord of Alakā: Austerity, Liṅga-Establishment, and the Receiving of a Boon
अथ देव्यब्रवीद्देव किमसौ दुष्टतापसः । असकृद्वीक्ष्य मां वक्ति कुरु त्वं मे तपःप्रभाम्
atha devyabravīddeva kimasau duṣṭatāpasaḥ | asakṛdvīkṣya māṃ vakti kuru tvaṃ me tapaḥprabhām
Kemudian Dewi berkata: “Wahai Tuan, siapakah pertapa jahat itu? Berkali-kali dia memandangku dan mengucapkan kata-kata yang tidak patut. Maka, perlihatkanlah kepadaku kuasa dan sinar yang lahir daripada tapas (pertapaan)mu, agar dia dapat ditundukkan.”
Devī (Pārvatī / the Goddess)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Domestic Kailāsa episode: Devī appeals to Śiva to reveal tapas-tejas to restrain an offending ascetic; functions as a household-līlā illustrating protection through divine power.
Significance: Models śaraṇāgati: the devotee seeks refuge in Śiva’s tapas-śakti for removal of harassment/adharma and restoration of maryādā.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse highlights that true tapas is inseparable from purity and self-restraint; a “wicked ascetic” is one whose senses and speech are uncontrolled. Devī’s appeal implies that divine grace and the Lord’s spiritual potency protect dharma and the devotee from adharma.
Devī addresses the personal Lord (“Deva”), showing Saguna Śiva as the protector who manifests spiritual power to uphold righteousness. In Linga-worship, this same protective, purifying presence of Śiva is invoked to burn impurities and stabilize the mind.
The practical takeaway is disciplined tapas joined with mantra-japa—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to generate inner purity and spiritual luminosity. Ethical restraint (yama) is implied as the foundation; without it, austerity becomes hollow.