Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2
सत्याः पुनस्तपश्चर्या — Satī’s Return to Austerity (Tapas) and Fearless Liṅga-Worship
तपःकृतवती पूर्वं देशे यस्मिन्सखीजनैः । तमेव देशमवृनोत्तपसे प्रणयात्पुनः
tapaḥkṛtavatī pūrvaṃ deśe yasminsakhījanaiḥ | tameva deśamavṛnottapase praṇayātpunaḥ
ณ สถานที่ซึ่งนางเคยบำเพ็ญตบะมาก่อนพร้อมหมู่สหาย นางก็เลือกสถานที่เดิมนั้นอีกครั้งเพื่อการตบะ ด้วยความรักและภักดี.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha
Sthala Purana: Himalayan tapas-sites are classically tied to Kedāra-kṣetra traditions where Śiva is approached through austerity and steadfastness; this verse’s ‘same place of former tapas’ matches the sthala-purāṇa pattern of returning to a charged sacred spot (pūrvasaṃskāra-bhūmi).
Significance: Affirms that repeated sādhana in a sanctified place intensifies saṃskāra and devotion (praṇaya), supporting the pilgrim ideal of returning to kṣetras for renewed vows.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights niṣṭhā (steadfastness) in sādhanā: returning to the same sacred setting for tapas symbolizes unwavering resolve and love-directed discipline, a Shaiva path where devotion ripens into inner purity fit for Shiva’s grace.
Though the verse speaks of tapas and place, its intent supports Saguna Shiva-upāsanā: sustained practice in a consecrated space naturally culminates in focused worship—often centered on Shiva’s auspicious form (including the Linga) as the accessible support for meditation and devotion.
A practical takeaway is to keep a consistent place and routine for Shiva-sādhanā—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), dhyāna, and simple pūjā—since continuity of place and mind strengthens tapas and bhakti.