Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 68
तारकेण पुरा वीर तपस्तप्तं सुदारुणम् । येनैव विजिता देवा येन स्वर्गस्तथा जितः
tārakeṇa purā vīra tapastaptaṃ sudāruṇam | yenaiva vijitā devā yena svargastathā jitaḥ
"اے بہادر! پہلے تارک نے انتہائی سخت تپस्या کی تھی، جس کے ذریعے دیوتاؤں کو فتح کیا گیا اور جنت کو بھی اپنے قابو میں کر لیا گیا۔"
Nārada
Listener: Kumāra/Skanda
Scene: A flashback-like narration: Tāraka performing terrifying austerities—emaciated body, blazing heat, surrounded by fire and storm; devas shown subdued or fleeing; heaven’s order shaken.
FAQs
Austerity grants power, but without dharma it can become a force of oppression; divine intervention restores balance.
Not explicit in this verse; it is part of Kedārakhaṇḍa’s larger sacred narrative.
No ritual is prescribed; tapas is referenced as Tāraka’s past practice.