इति निश्चितचेतस्के वशिष्ठे तापसे शुचौ । अशूद्रान्न परीपुष्टे तुष्टोहं चंडिकेऽभवम्
iti niścitacetaske vaśiṣṭhe tāpase śucau | aśūdrānna parīpuṣṭe tuṣṭohaṃ caṃḍike'bhavam
Demikianlah, ketika Vasiṣṭha—pertapa suci yang bertekad teguh—tidak dipelihara oleh makanan daripada Śūdra, maka aku, Caṇḍikā, menjadi amat berkenan.
Caṇḍikā (Devī)
Tirtha: Kāśī-kṣetra (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Vasiṣṭha, serene and radiant, sits in an ascetic posture with a water-pot and staff; offerings of food are present but he refuses certain fare; Caṇḍikā’s unseen presence is indicated by a red-gold aura or a lion-emblem banner, signifying her satisfaction.
Purity of conduct and unwavering resolve in austerity attract divine grace.
The chapter context is Kāśī, with the narrative moving toward Kedāra-kṣetra’s manifestation and praise.
It implies strictness in sustenance during tapas (discipline in accepting food), though no detailed rite is enumerated here.