Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 13
यदा हि तपसो वृद्धिस्तदा भक्तिर्हरौ भवेत् । तदा हि तपसो हानिर्यदा भक्तिं विना कृतम्
yadā hi tapaso vṛddhistadā bhaktirharau bhavet | tadā hi tapaso hāniryadā bhaktiṃ vinā kṛtam
เมื่อ ตบะ เพิ่มพูน พึงให้ภักติในพระหริบังเกิด; แต่ตบะย่อมเสื่อมลง—ถึงกับพร่อง—เมื่อกระทำโดยปราศจากภักติ
Īśvara (Śiva)
Scene: Two contrasting figures: one performs harsh penance with pride and dryness; another performs moderate austerity while offering flowers to Hari, radiating devotion; the latter is shown as spiritually luminous.
FAQs
Austerity is validated by devotion; without bhakti, tapas is considered spiritually depleted.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the focus is on the inner criterion for merit.
Perform tapas together with bhakti toward Hari; avoid austerity done as mere external discipline.