इति निश्चितचेतस्के वशिष्ठे तापसे शुचौ । अशूद्रान्न परीपुष्टे तुष्टोहं चंडिकेऽभवम्
iti niścitacetaske vaśiṣṭhe tāpase śucau | aśūdrānna parīpuṣṭe tuṣṭohaṃ caṃḍike'bhavam
Kaya, nang si Vasiṣṭha—ang dalisay na asceta na may matibay na pasiya—ay hindi pinakain ng pagkaing mula sa mga Śūdra, ako, si Caṇḍikā, ay lubos na nalugod sa kaniya.
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.