Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 3
साभिलाषास्तपस्यंति स्वर्गभोगोस्त्वितीह नः । तेऽत्र रुद्रपुरे रम्ये रुद्ररूपधरा नराः
sābhilāṣāstapasyaṃti svargabhogostvitīha naḥ | te'tra rudrapure ramye rudrarūpadharā narāḥ
وہ آرزو کے ساتھ تپسیا کرتے ہیں—‘ہمیں سُورگ کے بھوگ نصیب ہوں’ یہی ان کی نیت ہے۔ یہاں اس دلکش رودرپوری میں وہ مرد رودر ہی کی صورت دھار لیتے ہیں۔
Gaṇas (continuing)
Tirtha: Rudra-pura (Aiśānī context)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Tapasvins in Rudra’s city perform austerities with thoughts of svarga; yet their bodies subtly take on Rudra-like marks—trident insignia, ash lines, matted hair—signaling sārūpya (form-likeness).
FAQs
Even when austerity begins with desire for heaven, dwelling in Rudra’s sacred domain elevates the devotee toward Rudra-like purity and identity.
Rudrapura—‘the city of Rudra’—a sanctified locale within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s sacred geography.
Tapas (austerity) is mentioned; the verse does not specify a particular vrata or offering.