Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28
पार्वत्याः तपः-परीक्षा (Śiva Tests Pārvatī’s Austerity)
परार्थे च तपश्चेद्वै तिष्ठेत्तु तप एव तत् । रत्नं हस्ते समादाय हित्वा काचस्तु संचितः
parārthe ca tapaścedvai tiṣṭhettu tapa eva tat | ratnaṃ haste samādāya hitvā kācastu saṃcitaḥ
若苦行（tapas）是为他人之故（即为世间之利或取悦众人）而行，那便仅是“苦行”之名——其上妙之果已失；譬如手握珍贵宝珠，却将之弃去，反而细心收集碎玻璃。
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that austerity aimed at external approval or worldly ends is spiritually inferior; true tapas should be inwardly oriented toward Shiva-realization and liberation, otherwise one trades the “jewel” of moksha for the “glass” of temporary results.
Worship of the Linga (Saguna Shiva) is meant to purify intention and fix the mind on Shiva as the supreme goal; when tapas and worship are performed for boons alone, the act remains outward and misses the liberating grace that Linga-bhakti is meant to awaken.
Refine the sankalpa: perform japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), Linga-pūjā, and meditation with detachment—seeking purity and Shiva’s grace rather than social recognition or material gain.