क्षुपदधीचिसंवादः — शिलादतपः, वरसीमा, मेघवाहनकल्पे त्रिदेवसमागमः
तपतस्तस्य तपसा संतुष्टो वज्रधृक् प्रभुः शिलादमाह तुष्टो ऽस्मि वरयस्व वरानिति
tapatastasya tapasā saṃtuṣṭo vajradhṛk prabhuḥ śilādamāha tuṣṭo 'smi varayasva varāniti
Satisfeito com a austeridade ardente, o poderoso Senhor que empunha o vajra (Indra) aproximou-se de Śilāda e disse: “Estou satisfeito. Escolhe os teus dons.”
Suta Goswami (narrating); in-verse speech by Indra to Śilāda
It establishes tapas (disciplined austerity) as a preparatory purifier that makes a devotee fit for divine grace; in Linga-worship narratives, such grace ultimately points beyond boons toward devotion to Pati (Śiva).
Indirectly, it contrasts limited deity-granted boons with the higher Shaiva principle: worldly lords can reward effort, but Shiva-tattva as Pati is the final giver of liberation that cuts Pāśa (bondage) for the Pashu (soul).
Tapas—steady ascetic discipline (a limb aligned with Pāśupata-oriented purification)—is highlighted as the practice that ripens merit and draws down divine favor.