The Greatness of Water-Gifts, Tree-Planting, Truth, and Austerity

Verse 1 (shiva.uma.12.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । पानीयदानं परमं दानानामुत्तमं सदा । सर्वेषां जीवपुञ्जानां तर्पणं जीवनं स्मृतम्

sanatkumāra uvāca pānīyadānaṁ paramaṁ dānānāmuttamaṁ sadā sarveṣāṁ jīvapuñjānāṁ tarpaṇaṁ jīvanaṁ smṛtam

Sanatkumara said: The gift of water is ever supreme, the best among all gifts; it is remembered as the very refreshment and life of all multitudes of living beings.

Verse 2 (shiva.uma.12.2)

प्रपादानमतः कुर्यात् सुस्नेहादनिवारितम् । जलाश्रयविनिर्माणं महानन्दकरं भवेत्

prapādānamataḥ kuryāt susnehādanivāritam jalāśrayavinirmāṇaṁ mahānandakaraṁ bhavet

Therefore one should establish a water-shed, unhindered, out of true affection; the construction of a water-reservoir brings great joy.

Verse 3 (shiva.uma.12.3)

इह लोके परे वापि सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः । तस्माद्वापीश्च कूपांश्च तडागान् कारयेन्नरः

iha loke pare vāpi satyaṁ satyaṁ na saṁśayaḥ tasmādvāpīśca kūpāṁśca taḍāgān kārayennaraḥ

This is true both in this world and the next — truly, truly, without doubt. Therefore a man should have step-wells, wells, and tanks constructed.

Verse 4 (shiva.uma.12.4)

अर्धं पापस्य हरति पुरुषस्य विकर्मणः । कूपः प्रवृत्तपानीयः सुप्रवृत्तस्य नित्यशः

ardhaṁ pāpasya harati puruṣasya vikarmaṇaḥ kūpaḥ pravṛttapānīyaḥ supravṛttasya nityaśaḥ

A well from which water flows steadily takes away half the sin of a man of wrongful deeds, ever, for one who keeps it properly maintained.

Verse 5 (shiva.uma.12.5)

सर्वं तारयते वंशं यस्य खाते जलाशये । गावः पिबन्ति विप्राश्च साधवश्च नराः सदा

sarvaṁ tārayate vaṁśaṁ yasya khāte jalāśaye gāvaḥ pibanti viprāśca sādhavaśca narāḥ sadā

He in whose dug reservoir cows, brahmins, and virtuous men ever drink delivers his whole lineage across the ocean of sorrow.

Verse 6 (shiva.uma.12.6)

निदाघकाले पानीयं यस्य तिष्ठत्यवारितम् । सुदुर्गं विषमं कृच्छ्रं न कदाचिदवाप्यते

nidāghakāle pānīyaṁ yasya tiṣṭhatyavāritam sudurgaṁ viṣamaṁ kṛcchraṁ na kadācidavāpyate

He whose water remains available, unobstructed, even in the season of great heat, never encounters any difficult, perilous, or dreadful passage thereafter.

Verse 7 (shiva.uma.12.7)

तडागानां च वक्ष्यामि कृतानां ये गुणाः स्मृता । त्रिषु लोकेषु सर्वत्र पूजितो यस्तडागवान्

taḍāgānāṁ ca vakṣyāmi kṛtānāṁ ye guṇāḥ smṛtā triṣu lokeṣu sarvatra pūjito yastaḍāgavān

And I shall tell of the virtues that are remembered as belonging to constructed tanks; he who has built a tank is honored everywhere in the three worlds.

Verse 8 (shiva.uma.12.8)

अथवा मित्रसदने मैत्रं मित्रार्तिवर्जितम् । कीर्तिसञ्जननं श्रेष्ठं तडागानां निवेशनम्

athavā mitrasadane maitraṁ mitrārtivarjitam kīrtisañjananaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ taḍāgānāṁ niveśanam

Just as friendship in a friend's house brings no distress, so too the establishing of tanks is a supreme act, generating lasting fame.

Verse 9 (shiva.uma.12.9)

धर्मस्यार्थस्य कामस्य फलमाहुर्मनीषिणः । तडागः सुकृतो येन तस्य पुण्यमनन्तकम्

dharmasyārthasya kāmasya phalamāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ taḍāgaḥ sukṛto yena tasya puṇyamanantakam

The wise declare a well-made tank to be the fruit of dharma, artha, and kama; for one by whom a tank has been well made, his merit is endless.

Verse 10 (shiva.uma.12.10)

चतुर्विधानां भूतानां तडागः परमाश्रयः । तडागादीनि सर्वाणि दिशन्ति श्रियमुत्तमाम्

caturvidhānāṁ bhūtānāṁ taḍāgaḥ paramāśrayaḥ taḍāgādīni sarvāṇi diśanti śriyamuttamām

A tank is the supreme refuge for the four kinds of beings; tanks and the like, all of them, bestow supreme prosperity.

Verse 11 (shiva.uma.12.11)

देवा मनुष्या गन्धर्वाः पितरो नागराक्षसाः । स्थावराणि च भूतानि संश्रयन्ति जलाशयम्

devā manuṣyā gandharvāḥ pitaro nāgarākṣasāḥ sthāvarāṇi ca bhūtāni saṁśrayanti jalāśayam

Gods, men, gandharvas, ancestors, nagas, rakshasas, and even stationary beings all take refuge in a body of water.

Verse 12 (shiva.uma.12.12)

प्रावृडृतौ तडागे तु सलिलं यस्य तिष्ठति । अग्निहोत्रफलं तस्य भवतीत्याह चात्मभूः

prāvṛḍṛtau taḍāge tu salilaṁ yasya tiṣṭhati agnihotraphalaṁ tasya bhavatītyāha cātmabhūḥ

He whose tank retains water through the rainy season obtains a merit equal to the fruit of the Agnihotra sacrifice — so declares the Self-born Brahma.

Verse 13 (shiva.uma.12.13)

शरत्काले तु सलिलं तडागे यस्य तिष्ठति । गोसहस्रफलं तस्य भवेन्नैवात्र संशयः

śaratkāle tu salilaṁ taḍāge yasya tiṣṭhati gosahasraphalaṁ tasya bhavennaivātra saṁśayaḥ

He whose tank retains water through autumn obtains a merit equal to the gift of a thousand cows; there is no doubt about this.

Verse 14 (shiva.uma.12.14)

हेमन्ते शिशिरे चैव सलिलं यस्य तिष्ठति । स वै बहुसुवर्णस्य यज्ञस्य लभते फलम्

hemante śiśire caiva salilaṁ yasya tiṣṭhati sa vai bahusuvarṇasya yajñasya labhate phalam

He whose water remains through the early and late winter obtains the fruit of a sacrifice involving abundant gold.

Verse 15 (shiva.uma.12.15)

वसन्ते च तथा ग्रीष्मे सलिलं यस्य तिष्ठति । अतिरात्राश्वमेधानां फलमाहुर्मनीषिणः

vasante ca tathā grīṣme salilaṁ yasya tiṣṭhati atirātrāśvamedhānāṁ phalamāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ

And he whose water remains through spring and summer — the wise declare that he obtains the fruit of the Atiratra and Ashvamedha sacrifices.

Verse 16 (shiva.uma.12.16)

मुने व्यासाथ वृक्षाणां रोपणे च गुणान् शृणु । प्रोक्तं जलाशयफलं जीवप्रीणनमुत्तमम्

mune vyāsātha vṛkṣāṇāṁ ropaṇe ca guṇān śṛṇu proktaṁ jalāśayaphalaṁ jīvaprīṇanamuttamam

O sage Vyasa, now hear the merits of planting trees. The fruit of donating a reservoir has already been declared — it is the supreme means of gratifying living beings.

Verse 17 (shiva.uma.12.17)

अतीतानागतान् सर्वान् पितृवंशांस्तु तारयेत् । कान्तारे वृक्षरोपी यस्तस्माद् वृक्षांस्तु रोपयेत्

atītānāgatān sarvān pitṛvaṁśāṁstu tārayet kāntāre vṛkṣaropī yastasmād vṛkṣāṁstu ropayet

Whoever plants trees in a wilderness delivers across the ocean of sorrow his entire lineage of ancestors, both past and future; therefore one should plant trees.

Verse 18 (shiva.uma.12.18)

तत्र पुत्रा भवन्त्येते पादपा नात्र संशयः । परं लोकं गतः सोऽपि लोकानाप्नोति चाक्षयान्

tatra putrā bhavantyete pādapā nātra saṁśayaḥ paraṁ lokaṁ gataḥ so'pi lokānāpnoti cākṣayān

There, those very trees become his sons — there is no doubt about this; and he too, having gone to the world beyond, obtains imperishable worlds.

Verse 19 (shiva.uma.12.19)

पुष्पैः सुरगणान् सर्वान् फलैश्चापि तथा पितॄन् । छायया चातिथीन् सर्वान् पूजयन्ति महीरुहाः

puṣpaiḥ suragaṇān sarvān phalaiścāpi tathā pitṝn chāyayā cātithīn sarvān pūjayanti mahīruhāḥ

Trees honor all the hosts of gods with their flowers, likewise the ancestors with their fruits, and all guests with their shade.

Verse 20 (shiva.uma.12.20)

किन्नरोरगरक्षांसि देवगन्धर्वमानवाः । तथैवर्षिगणाश्चैव संश्रयन्ति महीरुहान्

kinnaroragarakṣāṁsi devagandharvamānavāḥ tathaivarṣigaṇāścaiva saṁśrayanti mahīruhān

Kinnaras, serpents, rakshasas, gods, gandharvas, men, and likewise hosts of sages all take refuge in trees.

Verse 21 (shiva.uma.12.21)

पुष्पिताः फलवन्तश्च तर्पयन्तीह मानवान् । इह लोके परे चैव पुत्रास्ते धर्मतः स्मृताः

puṣpitāḥ phalavantaśca tarpayantīha mānavān iha loke pare caiva putrāste dharmataḥ smṛtāḥ

Flowering and fruit-bearing, trees gratify men here; by virtue of dharma they are remembered as the planter's true sons, both in this world and the next.

Verse 22 (shiva.uma.12.22)

तडागकृद् वृक्षरोपी चेष्टयज्ञश्च यो द्विजः । एते स्वर्गान्न हीयन्ते ये चान्ये सत्यवादिनः

taḍāgakṛd vṛkṣaropī ceṣṭayajñaśca yo dvijaḥ ete svargānna hīyante ye cānye satyavādinaḥ

The builder of a tank, the planter of trees, the twice-born who performs the sacrifice he has undertaken, and whoever else speaks truth — these do not fall short of heaven.

Verse 23 (shiva.uma.12.23)

सत्यमेव परं ब्रह्म सत्यमेव परं तपः । सत्यमेव परो यज्ञः सत्यमेव परं श्रुतम्

satyameva paraṁ brahma satyameva paraṁ tapaḥ satyameva paro yajñaḥ satyameva paraṁ śrutam

Truth alone is the supreme Brahman; truth alone is the supreme austerity; truth alone is the supreme sacrifice; truth alone is the supreme essence of scripture.

Verse 24 (shiva.uma.12.24)

सत्यं सुप्तेषु जागर्ति सत्यं च परमं पदम् । सत्येनैव धृता पृथ्वी सत्ये सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्

satyaṁ supteṣu jāgarti satyaṁ ca paramaṁ padam satyenaiva dhṛtā pṛthvī satye sarvaṁ pratiṣṭhitam

Truth remains awake even among the sleeping; truth is the supreme state. By truth alone is the earth upheld; everything is established in truth.

Verse 25 (shiva.uma.12.25)

तपो यज्ञश्च पुण्यं च देवर्षिपितृपूजने । आपो विद्या च ते सर्वे सर्वं सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितम्

tapo yajñaśca puṇyaṁ ca devarṣipitṛpūjane āpo vidyā ca te sarve sarvaṁ satye pratiṣṭhitam

Austerity, sacrifice, and the merit of worshipping gods, sages, and ancestors, the sacred waters and all knowledge — all of these, everything, is established in truth.

Verse 26 (shiva.uma.12.26)

सत्यं यज्ञस्तपो दानं मन्त्रा देवी सरस्वती । ब्रह्मचर्यं तथा सत्यमोङ्कारः सत्यमेव च

satyaṁ yajñastapo dānaṁ mantrā devī sarasvatī brahmacaryaṁ tathā satyamoṅkāraḥ satyameva ca

Truth is sacrifice, austerity, and charity; truth is the mantras and the goddess Sarasvati; truth is likewise celibacy; truth alone, too, is the syllable Om.

Verse 27 (shiva.uma.12.27)

सत्येन वायुरभ्येति सत्येन तपते रविः । सत्येनाग्निर्निर्दहति स्वर्गः सत्येन तिष्ठति

satyena vāyurabhyeti satyena tapate raviḥ satyenāgnirnirdahati svargaḥ satyena tiṣṭhati

By truth the wind moves; by truth the sun radiates heat; by truth fire burns; by truth heaven stands firm.

Verse 28 (shiva.uma.12.28)

पालनं सर्ववेदानां सर्वतीर्थावगाहनम् । सत्येन वहते लोके सर्वमाप्नोत्यसंशयम्

pālanaṁ sarvavedānāṁ sarvatīrthāvagāhanam satyena vahate loke sarvamāpnotyasaṁśayam

The upholding of all the Vedas, and the bathing in all sacred fords — by truth these bear fruit in the world, and by truth one undoubtedly obtains everything.

Verse 29 (shiva.uma.12.29)

अश्वमेधसहस्रं च सत्यं च तुलया धृतम् । लक्षाणि क्रतवश्चैव सत्यमेव विशिष्यते

aśvamedhasahasraṁ ca satyaṁ ca tulayā dhṛtam lakṣāṇi kratavaścaiva satyameva viśiṣyate

When a thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices and truth are weighed on a balance-scale, and likewise compared against a hundred thousand other sacrifices, truth alone excels.

Verse 30 (shiva.uma.12.30)

सत्येन देवाः पितरो मानवोरगराक्षसाः । प्रीयन्ते सत्यतः सर्वे लोकाश्च सचराचराः

satyena devāḥ pitaro mānavoragarākṣasāḥ prīyante satyataḥ sarve lokāśca sacarācarāḥ

By truth the gods, ancestors, men, serpents, and rakshasas are gratified; through truthfulness all the worlds, moving and unmoving, are pleased.

Verse 31 (shiva.uma.12.31)

सत्यमाहुः परं धर्मं सत्यमाहुः परं पदम् । सत्यमाहुः परं ब्रह्म तस्मात्सत्यं सदा वदेत्

satyamāhuḥ paraṁ dharmaṁ satyamāhuḥ paraṁ padam satyamāhuḥ paraṁ brahma tasmātsatyaṁ sadā vadet

They call truth the supreme dharma; they call truth the supreme state; they call truth the supreme Brahman. Therefore one should always speak the truth.

Verse 32 (shiva.uma.12.32)

मुनयः सत्यनिरतास्तपस्तप्त्वा सुदुश्चरम् । सत्यधर्मरताः सिद्धाः ततः स्वर्गं च ते गताः

munayaḥ satyaniratāstapastaptvā suduścaram satyadharmaratāḥ siddhāḥ tataḥ svargaṁ ca te gatāḥ

Sages devoted to truth, having performed extremely difficult austerities, devoted to the dharma of truth, attained perfection, and from there went to heaven.

Verse 33 (shiva.uma.12.33)

अप्सरोगणसंविष्टैर्विमानैः परिमातृभिः । वक्तव्यं च सदा सत्यं न सत्याद्विद्यते परम्

apsarogaṇasaṁviṣṭairvimānaiḥ parimātṛbhiḥ vaktavyaṁ ca sadā satyaṁ na satyādvidyate param

They travel in celestial chariots filled with troops of Apsarases, surrounded by the divine mothers. Truth should always be spoken; there exists nothing higher than truth.

Verse 34 (shiva.uma.12.34)

अगाधे विपुले सिद्धे सत्यतीर्थे शुचिह्रदे । स्नातव्यं मनसा युक्तं स्थानं तत्परमं स्मृतम्

agādhe vipule siddhe satyatīrthe śucihrade snātavyaṁ manasā yuktaṁ sthānaṁ tatparamaṁ smṛtam

One should bathe, with a focused mind, in that unfathomable, vast, perfected, and pure lake which is the sacred ford of Truth; that place is remembered as supreme.

Verse 35 (shiva.uma.12.35)

आत्मार्थे वा परार्थे वा पुत्रार्थे वापि मानवाः । अनृतं ये न भाषन्ते ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

ātmārthe vā parārthe vā putrārthe vāpi mānavāḥ anṛtaṁ ye na bhāṣante te narāḥ svargagāminaḥ

Whether for one's own sake, for another's sake, or even for the sake of a son — those men who do not speak falsehood are bound for heaven.

Verse 36 (shiva.uma.12.36)

वेदा यज्ञास्तथा मन्त्राः सन्ति विप्रेषु नित्यशः । नौ भान्त्यपि ह्यसत्येषु तस्मात्सत्यं समाचरेत्

vedā yajñāstathā mantrāḥ santi vipreṣu nityaśaḥ nau bhāntyapi hyasatyeṣu tasmātsatyaṁ samācaret

The Vedas, sacrifices, and mantras ever abide in brahmins; yet they do not bear fruit among the untruthful. Therefore one should practice truthfulness.

Verse 37 (shiva.uma.12.37)

व्यास उवाच । तपसो मे फलं ब्रूहि पुनरेव विशेषतः । सर्वेषां चैव वर्णानां ब्राह्मणानां तपोधन

vyāsa uvāca tapaso me phalaṁ brūhi punareva viśeṣataḥ sarveṣāṁ caiva varṇānāṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ tapodhana

Vyasa said: O one whose wealth is austerity, tell me again, in particular, the fruit of tapas for all the varnas, and especially for brahmins.

Verse 38 (shiva.uma.12.38)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । प्रवक्ष्यामि तपोऽध्यायं सर्वकामार्थसाधकम् । सुदुश्चरं द्विजातीनां तन्मे निगदतः शृणु

sanatkumāra uvāca pravakṣyāmi tapo'dhyāyaṁ sarvakāmārthasādhakam suduścaraṁ dvijātīnāṁ tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu

Sanatkumara said: I shall now speak the chapter on austerity, which accomplishes every desired object, though extremely hard for the twice-born to practice; hear it attentively from me.

Verse 39 (shiva.uma.12.39)

तपो हि परमं प्रोक्तं तपसा विद्यते फलम् । तपोरता हि ये नित्यं मोदन्ते सह दैवतैः

tapo hi paramaṁ proktaṁ tapasā vidyate phalam taporatā hi ye nityaṁ modante saha daivataiḥ

Austerity indeed is declared supreme; by austerity fruit is obtained. Those ever devoted to austerity rejoice together with the gods.

Verse 40 (shiva.uma.12.40)

तपसा प्राप्यते स्वर्गस्तपसा प्राप्यते यशः । तपसा प्राप्यते कामस्तपः सर्वार्थसाधनम्

tapasā prāpyate svargastapasā prāpyate yaśaḥ tapasā prāpyate kāmastapaḥ sarvārthasādhanam

By austerity heaven is obtained; by austerity fame is obtained; by austerity desire is obtained; austerity is the means of accomplishing every goal.

Verse 41 (shiva.uma.12.41)

तपसा मोक्षमाप्नोति तपसा विन्दते महत् । ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पत्तिः सौभाग्यं रूपमेव च

tapasā mokṣamāpnoti tapasā vindate mahat jñānavijñānasampattiḥ saubhāgyaṁ rūpameva ca

By austerity one attains liberation; by austerity one obtains greatness — the wealth of knowledge and applied wisdom, good fortune, and beauty of form.

Verse 42 (shiva.uma.12.42)

नानाविधानि वस्तूनि तपसा लभते नरः । तपसा लभते सर्वं मनसा यद्यदिच्छति

nānāvidhāni vastūni tapasā labhate naraḥ tapasā labhate sarvaṁ manasā yadyadicchati

A man obtains manifold things by austerity; by austerity he obtains everything that he desires in his mind.

Verse 43 (shiva.uma.12.43)

नातप्ततपसो यान्ति ब्रह्मलोकं कदाचन । नातप्ततपसां प्राप्यः शङ्करः परमेश्वरः

nātaptatapaso yānti brahmalokaṁ kadācana nātaptatapasāṁ prāpyaḥ śaṅkaraḥ parameśvaraḥ

Those who have not practiced austerity never attain the world of Brahma; Shankara, the Supreme Lord, is not attainable by those who have not undergone austerity.

Verse 44 (shiva.uma.12.44)

यत्कार्यं किञ्चिदास्थाय पुरुषस्तपते तपः । तत्सर्वं समवाप्नोति परत्रेह च मानवः

yatkāryaṁ kiñcidāsthāya puruṣastapate tapaḥ tatsarvaṁ samavāpnoti paratreha ca mānavaḥ

Whatever purpose a man undertakes and, resolved upon it, practices austerity — he obtains all of that, both here and in the world beyond.

Verse 45 (shiva.uma.12.45)

सुरापः परदारी च ब्रह्महा गुरुतल्पगः । तपसा तरते सर्वं सर्वतश्च विमुञ्चति

surāpaḥ paradārī ca brahmahā gurutalpagaḥ tapasā tarate sarvaṁ sarvataśca vimuñcati

Even a drinker of liquor, an adulterer, a killer of a brahmin, and one who violates his guru's wife — through austerity he crosses over all these sins and is released from every one of them entirely.

Verse 46 (shiva.uma.12.46)

अपि सर्वेश्वरः स्थाणुर्विष्णुश्चैव सनातनः । ब्रह्मा हुताशनः शक्रो ये चान्ये तपसान्विताः

api sarveśvaraḥ sthāṇurviṣṇuścaiva sanātanaḥ brahmā hutāśanaḥ śakro ye cānye tapasānvitāḥ

Even the Lord of all, Sthanu; and eternal Vishnu; Brahma; Fire; Indra; and whatever others there are — all are endowed with the fruits of austerity.

Verse 47 (shiva.uma.12.47)

अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि मुनीनामूर्ध्वरेतसाम् । तपसा दिवि मोदन्ते समेता दैवतैः सह

aṣṭāśītisahasrāṇi munīnāmūrdhvaretasām tapasā divi modante sametā daivataiḥ saha

Eighty-eight thousand celibate sages of upward-retained seed rejoice in heaven through austerity, gathered together with the gods.

Verse 48 (shiva.uma.12.48)

तपसा लभ्यते राज्यं स च शक्रः सुरेश्वरः । तपसापालयत्सर्वमहन्यहनि वृत्रहा

tapasā labhyate rājyaṁ sa ca śakraḥ sureśvaraḥ tapasāpālayatsarvamahanyahani vṛtrahā

By austerity sovereignty is obtained; and that very Indra, slayer of Vritra, protected all the worlds, day after day, through austerity.

Verse 49 (shiva.uma.12.49)

सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ देवौ सर्वलोकहिते रतौ । तपसैव प्रकाशन्ते नक्षत्राणि ग्रहास्तथा

sūryācandramasau devau sarvalokahite ratau tapasaiva prakāśante nakṣatrāṇi grahāstathā

The two gods Sun and Moon, devoted to the welfare of all the worlds, and likewise the stars and planets, shine forth through austerity alone.

Verse 50 (shiva.uma.12.50)

न चास्ति तत्सुखं लोके यद्विना तपसा किल । तपसैव सुखं सर्वमिति वेदविदो विदुः

na cāsti tatsukhaṁ loke yadvinā tapasā kila tapasaiva sukhaṁ sarvamiti vedavido viduḥ

Indeed there exists no happiness in the world that comes without austerity; those who know the Vedas know that all happiness comes through austerity alone.

Verse 51 (shiva.uma.12.51)

ज्ञानं विज्ञानमारोग्यं रूपवत्त्वं तथैव च । सौभाग्यं चैव तपसा प्राप्यते सर्वदा सुखम्

jñānaṁ vijñānamārogyaṁ rūpavattvaṁ tathaiva ca saubhāgyaṁ caiva tapasā prāpyate sarvadā sukham

Knowledge, applied wisdom, freedom from disease, beauty of form, good fortune, and lasting happiness — all of this is obtained through austerity.

Verse 52 (shiva.uma.12.52)

तपसा सृज्यते विश्वं ब्रह्मा विश्वं विना श्रमम् । पाति विष्णुर्हरोऽप्यत्ति धत्ते शेषोऽखिलां महीम्

tapasā sṛjyate viśvaṁ brahmā viśvaṁ vinā śramam pāti viṣṇurharo'pyatti dhatte śeṣo'khilāṁ mahīm

Through austerity Brahma creates this universe without effort; Vishnu protects it; Hara consumes it; and Shesha bears the entire earth.

Verse 53 (shiva.uma.12.53)

विश्वामित्रो गाधिसुतस्तपसैव महामुने । क्षत्रियोऽथाभवद्विप्रः प्रसिद्धं त्रिभवे त्विदम्

viśvāmitro gādhisutastapasaiva mahāmune kṣatriyo'thābhavadvipraḥ prasiddhaṁ tribhave tvidam

O great sage, Vishvamitra, the son of Gadhi, though a kshatriya, became a brahmin through austerity alone — this is well known throughout the three worlds.

Verse 54 (shiva.uma.12.54)

इत्युक्तं ते महाप्राज्ञ तपोमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । शृण्वध्ययनमाहात्म्यं तपसोऽधिकमुत्तमम्

ityuktaṁ te mahāprājña tapomāhātmyamuttamam śṛṇvadhyayanamāhātmyaṁ tapaso'dhikamuttamam

Thus, O greatly wise one, has the supreme glory of austerity been told to you. Now hear the glory of Vedic study, which is even more excellent than austerity.