Shiva Purana

siva.sh/siva-purana/rudra-samhita/145/23

महदाराधनं देवा न सुसाध्यं विचार्य्यताम् ।। महदाराधने पूर्वं भवेद्दुःखमिति श्रुतम् ।। विज्ञाय दृढतां देवाः प्रसन्नो भवति ध्रुवम् ।। २३ ।।

sanskrit

O gods ponder over this. This propitiation of the great is not an easy task. It is heard that there is great difficulty at first in propitiating the great. The lord will certainly be pleased after coming to know of your resolute nature.

english translation

mahadArAdhanaM devA na susAdhyaM vicAryyatAm || mahadArAdhane pUrvaM bhavedduHkhamiti zrutam || vijJAya dRDhatAM devAH prasanno bhavati dhruvam || 23 ||

hk transliteration by Sanscript