Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11
त्रिपुरवर्णनम् (Tripura-varṇanam) — “Description of Tripura”
वसंते सर्वकामांश्च गीतवादित्रनिस्स्वनम् । विहाय सोत्सवं तेपुस्त्रयस्ते तारकात्मजाः
vasaṃte sarvakāmāṃśca gītavāditranissvanam | vihāya sotsavaṃ tepustrayaste tārakātmajāḥ
Tatkala musim bunga tiba, tiga putera Tāraka meninggalkan segala kenikmatan serta bunyi perayaan nyanyian dan alat muzik, lalu mereka menjalani tapa (pertapaan) yang keras.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It highlights tapas as a concentrated withdrawal from sense-enjoyment; by renouncing pleasure and celebration, the mind becomes one-pointed, showing how disciplined effort can generate great power—yet in Shaiva Siddhanta, true fulfillment comes when such power is aligned to Pati (Shiva), not ego or domination.
Though the verse does not name the Liṅga directly, it sets the narrative ground for seeking boons through austerity—traditionally directed toward Saguna Shiva as the grantor of fruits; Shaiva teaching warns that without devotion and purity, tapas may yield worldly siddhis rather than Shiva-centered grace.
The takeaway is disciplined tapas: reduce sensory indulgence, observe vrata-like restraint, and stabilize the mind; a Shaiva practitioner may pair such restraint with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and simple worship with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) for inner steadiness.