Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.2410

c8.2410

Śukra did severe penance to propitiate Śiva and Śiva appeared before Śukrācārya and when he knew that the purpose of Śukra was to defeat the devas he was a bit embarrassed. So he told him thus : "Oh sage Śukra, you take a vow and do penance with your head downwards over smoky incense for a thousand years. You will then attain power and happiness as you desire." In fact Śiva thought Śukra might not be able to complete the penance and so not succeed in his plan of destroying the devas. But Śukra started the penance in right earnest.