Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43
Sūrya-vaṃśa Genealogy and the Supremacy of Tapas: Gāyatrī-Japa, Rudra-Darśana, and Śatarudrīya Upadeśa
क्रतुरुवाच प्राप्ताध्ययनयज्ञस् लब्धपुत्रस्य चैव हि / नान्तरेण तपः कश्चिद्धर्मः शास्त्रेषु दृश्यते
kraturuvāca prāptādhyayanayajñas labdhaputrasya caiva hi / nāntareṇa tapaḥ kaściddharmaḥ śāstreṣu dṛśyate
克罗都说：即便有人已成就吠陀之学与祭祀之功德，乃至蒙福得子，在诸论典中也不见有任何离开苦行（tapas）而存在的法（dharma）。
Sage Kratu
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
By declaring that no dharma stands without tapas, the verse implies that realization-oriented discipline is essential for inner purification—without which knowledge of the Self remains merely conceptual and not transformative.
The verse highlights tapas as a core yogic limb: sustained self-discipline, restraint, and focused effort that empowers both ritual action (yajña) and inner practice—aligning with the Kurma Purana’s Pashupata-leaning emphasis on disciplined sādhanā.
Rather than naming either deity, it stresses a shared śāstric principle: tapas is the universal foundation of dharma across Shaiva and Vaishnava paths, supporting the Purana’s synthetic approach where devotion and discipline converge toward one supreme reality.