“O god of gods, grant me your grace, so that my asceticism may not diminish.” Thereupon the deity, becoming glad in heart, thus spoke to that Brahmana Rishi,
त्वत्प्रसादान् महादेव तपो मे न क्षरेत वै। ततो देवः प्रहृष्टात्मा ब्रह्मर्षिमिदमब्रवीत्॥