Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 26
यातास्मि तपसश्चर्तुं कालीवाक्यात्तवातुलम् । रतिश्च तत्र मे नाभूत्ततः प्राप्ता तवांतिकम्
yātāsmi tapasaścartuṃ kālīvākyāttavātulam | ratiśca tatra me nābhūttataḥ prāptā tavāṃtikam
کالی کے کلمات سے اُبھَر کر میں بے مثال تپسیا کرنے گئی تھی؛ مگر وہاں مجھے کوئی سرور نہ ملا، اسی لیے میں لوٹ کر تیری حضوری میں آ گئی ہوں۔
Asura in Umā-form (reported speech; deduced)
Scene: The speaker claims to have gone for severe austerity at Kālī’s prompting but found no joy, returning to the beloved’s vicinity; depict a contrast between harsh ascetic landscape and the warmth of return.
FAQs
Austerity without right intention does not yield inner fulfillment; dharma depends on truthfulness and purity of purpose.
No tīrtha is specified.
Tapas (austerity) is referenced generally, but no specific vrata or rite is prescribed.