Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 9
सदा तपस्यां चरामि प्रीत्यर्थं हरिवेधसोः । श्रुत्वेति चापसृत्यैव खिन्नास्ते मुनयोऽब्रुवन्
sadā tapasyāṃ carāmi prītyarthaṃ harivedhasoḥ | śrutveti cāpasṛtyaiva khinnāste munayo'bruvan
（他说：）“我恒常修行苦行，只为令诃利与韦陀诃斯（梵天）欢喜。”诸仙闻此，立刻退去，神情沮丧而发言。
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deductive, Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative frame)
Listener: munaḥ (sages)
Scene: An ascetic/divine speaker declares continual tapas for Hari and Brahmā; nearby sages, hearing it, step back with lowered gaze, their faces showing fatigue and dejection, as if their prior assumptions have been overturned.
FAQs
Tapas is portrayed as an offering aimed at divine pleasure (prīti), not mere self-power; even great beings serve one another within cosmic order.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned.
Tapas (austerity/penance) is highlighted as a sustained spiritual discipline.