Agastya said: It is true what you say. But it would (simply) waste my ascetic merit. Bid me so do that which may not waste my ascetic merit.
अगस्त्य उवाच एवमेतद् यथाऽऽत्य त्वं तपोव्ययकरं तु तत्। यथा तु मे न नश्येत तपस्तन्मां प्रचोदय।॥