Shloka 14
Arjuna–Gaṇa Saṃvāda: Bāṇādhikāra, Tāpasa-veṣa, and the Ethics of Tapas (अर्जुन-गणसंवादः)
तपसा क्षीयते सत्यमेतदेव मया श्रुतम् । तस्माच्च तपसस्तेद्य भविष्यति फलं कुतः
tapasā kṣīyate satyametadeva mayā śrutam | tasmācca tapasastedya bhaviṣyati phalaṃ kutaḥ
“Quả thật—điều này ta đã nghe—rằng khổ hạnh làm cho chân thật bị hao mòn. Vậy nên, bậc đáng kính, làm sao có thể sinh ra quả báo nào từ thứ khổ hạnh ấy?”
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shatarudra discourse; the verse reads as an objection/question within the dialogue)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It warns that austerity by itself can deplete the body and egoically exhaust the seeker; in Shaiva teaching, tapas becomes truly fruitful when aligned with Shiva-bhakti, right knowledge, and surrender to Pati (Shiva) rather than mere self-mortification.
It implies that external effort alone is not the final means; worship of Saguna Shiva—especially through Linga-upasana with mantra, offering, and devotion—channels discipline toward grace, making practice inwardly purifying rather than merely draining.
Prefer moderated tapas joined with Shiva-japa (Panchakshara: “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Linga-puja; keep the body steady with sattvic restraint, and make austerity a support for remembrance rather than an end in itself.