Tapas
(तप)Literal Meaning
Austerity, spiritual heat
Etymology & Sanskrit Root
From Sanskrit 'tap' — to heat or burn — self-discipline and austerity intense enough to 'burn away' impurities and generate spiritual power.
Spiritual Insight & Context
Many Puranic stories describe rishis and even demons performing intense tapas to earn boons from the gods, illustrating that this power is available to anyone through sheer disciplined effort.