Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 71
अथ तिष्ठंतु कठिनाः प्राणाः कंठाटवीतटे । तपस्यंतोतिसंतप्तास्तपसे त्वयि यास्यति
atha tiṣṭhaṃtu kaṭhināḥ prāṇāḥ kaṃṭhāṭavītaṭe | tapasyaṃtotisaṃtaptāstapase tvayi yāsyati
அப்போது என் கடினமான உயிர்மூச்சுகள் தொண்டை-வனத்தின் கரையில் தங்கட்டும்; தவத்தின் வெப்பத்தில் மிகத் தகித்து, அவை உன்னுடன் தவத்திற்கு செல்லும்.
Sunīti (contextual attribution), within Skanda’s narration to Agastya (contextual attribution)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis
Scene: The mother stands composed, eyes burning with restrained tears; behind her, a symbolic dark ‘throat-forest’ motif (shadowed trees) at the neck/throat region, while Dhruva walks toward a bright ascetic path—suggesting prāṇas staying at the throat-bank yet joining his tapas in spirit.
FAQs
Tapas is portrayed as a consuming fire that transforms the practitioner and even those emotionally bound to him; blessing and suffering coexist in dharma.
The verse does not name a tīrtha; it is part of the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s broader sacred narrative.
No direct prescription; the verse alludes generally to tapas (austerity).