Chapter 88: Lord Śiva Saved from Vṛkāsura

 

10.88.1

śrī-rājovāca

devāsura-manuṣyesu

ye bhajanty aśivaḿ śivam

prāyas te dhanino bhojā

na tu lakṣmyāḥ patiḿ harim

 

śrī-rājā uvāca — the King (Parīkṣit) said; deva — among demigods; asura — demons; manuṣyeṣu — and humans; ye — who; bhajanti — worship; aśivam — austere; śivam — Lord Śiva; prāyaḥ — usually; te — they; dhaninaḥ — rich; bhojāḥ — enjoyers of sense gratification; na — not; tu — however; lakṣmyāḥ — of the goddess of fortune; patim — the husband; harim — Lord Hari.

 

TRANSLATION

 

King Parīkṣit said: Those demigods, demons and humans who worship Lord Śiva, a strict renunciant, usually enjoy wealth and sense gratification, while the worshipers of the Supreme Lord Hari, the husband of the goddess of fortune, do not.

 

10.88.2

etad veditum icchāmaḥ

sandeho 'tra mahān hi naḥ

viruddha-śīlayoḥ prabhvor

viruddhā bhajatāḿ gatiḥ

 

etat — this; veditum — to understand; icchāmaḥ — we wish; sandehaḥ — doubt; atra — in this matter; mahān — great; hi — indeed; naḥ — on our part; viruddha — opposite; śīlayoḥ — whose characters; prabhvoḥ — of the two lords; viruddhā — opposite; bhajatām — of their worshipers; gatiḥ — the destinations.

 

TRANSLATION

 

We wish to properly understand this matter, which greatly puzzles us. Indeed, the results attained by the worshipers of these two lords of opposite characters are contrary to what one would expect.

 

10.88.3

śrī-śuka uvāca

śivaḥ śakti-yutaḥ śaśvat

tri-lińgo guṇa-saḿvṛtaḥ

vaikārikas taijasaś ca

tāmasaś cety ahaḿ tridhā

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śuka said; śivaḥ — Lord Śiva; śakti — with his energy, material nature; yataḥ — united; śaśvat — always; tri — three; lińgaḥ — whose manifest features; guṇa — by the modes; saḿvṛtaḥ — prayed to; vaikārikaḥ — false ego in the mode of goodness; taijasaḥ — false ego in the mode of passion; ca — and; tāmasaḥ — false ego in mode of ignorance; ca — and; iti — thus; aham — the principle of material ego; tridhā — threefold.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Śukadeva said: Lord Śiva is always united with his personal energy, the material nature. Manifesting himself in three features in response to the entreaties of nature's three modes, he thus embodies the threefold principle of material ego in goodness, passion and ignorance.

 

10.88.4

tato vikārā abhavan

ṣoḍaśāmīṣu kañcana

upadhāvan vibhūtīnāḿ

sarvāsām aśnute gatim

 

tataḥ — from that (false ego); vikārāḥ — transformations; abhavan — have manifested; ṣoḍaśa — sixteen; amīṣu — among these; kañcana — any; upadhāvan — pursuing; vibhūtīnām — of material assets; sarvāsām — all; aśnute — enjoys; gatim — the acquisition.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The sixteen elements have evolved as transformations of that false ego. When a devotee of Lord Śiva worships his manifestation in any one of these elements, the devotee obtains all sorts of corresponding enjoyable opulences.

 

10.88.5

harir hi nirguṇaḥ sākṣāt

puruṣaḥ prakṛteḥ paraḥ

sa sarva-dṛg upadraṣṭā

taḿ bhajan nirguṇo bhavet

 

hariḥ — the Supreme Lord Hari; hi — indeed; nirguṇaḥ — untouched by the material modes; sākṣāt — absolutely; puruṣaḥ — the Personality of Godhead; prakṛteḥ — to material nature; paraḥ — transcendental; saḥ — He; sarva — everything; dṛk — seeing; upadraṣṭā — the witness; tam — Him; bhajan — by worshiping; nirguṇaḥ — free from the material modes; bhavet — one becomes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Hari, however, has no connection with the material modes. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the all-seeing eternal witness, who is transcendental to material nature. One who worships Him becomes similarly free from the material modes.

 

10.88.6

nivṛtteṣv aśva-medheṣu

rājā yuṣmat-pitāmahaḥ

śṛṇvan bhagavato dharmān

apṛcchad idam acyutam

 

nivṛtteṣu — when they were completed; aśva-medheṣu — his performances of the horse sacrifice; rājā — the King (Yudhiṣṭhira); yuṣmat — your (Parīkṣit's); pitāmahāḥ — grandfather; śṛṇvan — while hearing; bhagavataḥ — from the Supreme Lord (Kṛṣṇa); dharmān — religious principles; apṛcchat — he asked; idam — this; acyutam — of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Your grandfather, King Yudhiṣṭhira, after completing his Aśvamedha sacrifices, asked Lord Acyuta this very same question while hearing the Lord's explanation of religious principles.

 

10.88.7

sa āha bhagavāḿs tasmai

prītaḥ śuśrūṣave prabhuḥ

nṛṇāḿ niḥśreyasārthāya

yo 'vatīrṇo yadoḥ kule

 

saḥ — He; āha — said; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; tasmai — to him; prītaḥ — pleased; śuśrūṣave — who was eager to hear; prabhuḥ — his master; nṛṇām — of all men; niḥśreyasa — of ultimate benefit; arthāya — for the sake; yaḥ — who; avatīrṇaḥ — descended; yadoḥ — of King Yadu; kule — in the family.

 

TRANSLATION

 

This question pleased Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the King's Lord and master, who had descended into the family of Yadu for the purpose of bestowing the highest good on all men. The Lord replied as follows as the King eagerly listened.

 

10.88.8

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

yasyāham anugṛhṇāmi

hariṣye tad-dhanaḿ śanaiḥ

tato 'dhanaḿ tyajanty asya

svajanā duḥkha-duḥkhitam

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Personality of Godhead said; yasya — whom; aham — I; anugṛhṇāmi — favor; hariṣye — I will take away; tat — his; dhanam — wealth; śanaiḥ — gradually; tataḥ — then; adhanam — poor; tyajanti — abandon; asya — his; sva-janāḥ — relatives and friends; duḥkha-duḥkhitam — who suffers one distress after another.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Personality of Godhead said: If I especially favor someone, I gradually deprive him of his wealth. Then the relatives and friends of such a poverty-stricken man abandon him. In this way he suffers one distress after another.

 

10.88.9

sa yadā vitathodyogo

nirviṇṇaḥ syād dhanehayā

mat-paraiḥ kṛta-maitrasya

kariṣye mad-anugraham

 

saḥ — he; yadā — when; vitatha — useless; udyogaḥ — his attempt; nirviṇṇaḥ — frustrated; syāt — becomes; dhana — for money; īhayā — with his endeavor; mat — to Me; paraiḥ — with those who are devoted; kṛta — for him who has made; maitrasya — friendship; kariṣye — I will show; mat — My; anugraham — mercy.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When he becomes frustrated in his attempts to make money and instead befriends My devotees, I bestow My special mercy upon him.

 

10.88.10

tad brahma paramaḿ sūkṣmaḿ

cin-mātraḿ sad anantakam

vijñāyātmatayā dhīraḥ

saḿsārāt parimucyate

 

tat — that; brahma — impersonal Brahman; paramam — supreme; sūkṣmam — subtle; cit — spirit; mātram — pure; sat — eternal existence; anantakam — without end; vijñāya — understanding with thorough realization; ātmatayā — as one's true Self; dhīraḥ — sober; saḿsārāt — from material life; parimucyate — one becomes freed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A person who has thus become sober fully realizes the Absolute as the highest truth, the most subtle and perfect manifestation of spirit, the transcendental existence without end. In this way realizing that the Supreme Truth is the foundation of his own existence, he is freed from the cycle of material life.

 

10.88.11

ato māḿ su-durārādhyaḿ

hitvānyān bhajate janaḥ

tatas ta āśu-toṣebhyo

labdha-rājya-śriyoddhatāḥ

mattāḥ pramattā vara-dān

vismayanty avajānate

 

ataḥ — therefore; mām — Me; su — very; durārādhyam — difficult to worship; hitvā — leaving aside; anyān — others; bhajate — worship; janaḥ — the ordinary populace; tataḥ — consequently; te — they; āśu — quickly; toṣebhyaḥ — from those who are satisfied; labdha — received; rājya — royal; śriyā — by opulence; uddhatāḥ — made arrogant; mattāḥ — intoxicated with pride; pramattāḥ — negligent; vara — of benedictions; dān — the givers; vismayanti — becoming too bold; avajānate — they insult.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Because I am difficult to worship, people generally avoid Me and instead worship other deities, who are quickly satisfied. When people receive kingly opulences from these deities, they become arrogant, intoxicated with pride and neglectful of their duties. They dare to offend even the demigods who have bestowed benedictions upon them.

 

10.88.12

śrī-śuka uvāca

śāpa-prasādayor īśā

brahma-viṣṇu-śivādayaḥ

sadyaḥ śāpa-prasādo 'ńga

śivo brahmā na cācyutaḥ

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; śāpa — in cursing; prasādayoḥ — and showing favor; īśāḥ — capable; brahma-viṣṇu-śiva-ādayaḥ — Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva and others; sadyaḥ — quick; śāpa-prasādaḥ — whose curse and benediction; ańga — my dear (King Parīkṣit); śivaḥ — Lord Śiva; brahmā — Lord Brahmā; na — not; ca — and; acyutaḥ — Lord Viṣṇu.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Śiva and others are able to curse or bless one. Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā are very quick to curse or bestow benedictions, my dear King, but the infallible Supreme Lord is not.

 

10.88.13

atra codāharantīmam

itihāsaḿ purātanam

vṛkāsurāya giriśo

varaḿ dattvāpa sańkaṭam

 

atra — in this regard; ca — and; udāharanti — they relate as an example; imam — the following; itihāsam — historical account; purātanam — ancient; vṛka-asurāya — to the demon Vṛka; giri-śaḥ — Lord Śiva, master of Mount Kailāsa; varam — a choice of benedictions; dattvā — giving; āpa — obtained; sańkaṭam — a dangerous situation.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In this connection, an ancient historical account is related concerning how the Lord of Kailāsa Mountain was put into danger by offering a choice of benedictions to the demon Vṛka.

 

10.88.14

vṛko nāmāsuraḥ putraḥ

śakuneḥ pathi nāradam

dṛṣṭvāśu-toṣaḿ papraccha

deveṣu triṣu durmatiḥ

 

vṛkaḥ — Vṛka; nāma — by name; asuraḥ — a demon; putraḥ — a son; śakuneḥ — of Śakuni; pathi — on the road; nāradam — the sage Nārada; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; āśu — quickly; toṣam — pleased; papraccha — he asked about; deveṣu — among the lords; triṣu — three; durmatiḥ — wicked.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The demon named Vṛka, a son of Śakuni's, once met Nārada on the road. The wicked fellow asked him which of the three chief gods could be pleased most quickly.

 

10.88.15

sa āha devaḿ giriśam

upādhāvāśu siddhyasi

yo 'lpābhyāḿ guṇa-doṣābhyām

āśu tuṣyati kupyati

 

saḥ — he (Nārada); āha — said; devam — the lord; giriśam — Śiva; upādhāva — you should worship; āśu — quickly; siddhyasi — you will become successful; yaḥ — who; alpābhyām — slight; guṇa — by good qualities; doṣābhyām — and faults; āśu — quickly; tuṣyati — is satisfied; kupyati — is angered.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nārada told him: Worship Lord Śiva and you will soon achieve success. He quickly becomes pleased by seeing his worshiper's slightest good qualities — and quickly angered by seeing his slightest fault.

 

10.88.16

daśāsya-bāṇayos tuṣṭaḥ

stuvator vandinor iva

aiśvaryam atulaḿ dattvā

tata āpa su-sańkaṭam

 

daśa-āsya — with ten-headed Rāvaṇa; bāṇayoḥ — and with Bāṇa; tuṣṭaḥ — satisfied; stuvatoḥ — who sang his glories; vandinoḥ iva — like minstrels; aiśvaryam — power; atulam — unequaled; dattvā — giving; tataḥ — then; āpa — he obtained; su — great; sańkaṭam — difficulty.

 

TRANSLATION

 

He became pleased with ten-headed Rāvaṇa, and also with Bāṇa, when they each chanted his glories, like bards in a royal court. Lord Śiva then bestowed unprecedented power upon each of them, but in both cases he was consequently beset with great difficulty.

 

10.88.17

ity ādiṣṭas tam asura

upādhāvat sva-gātrataḥ

kedāra ātma-kravyeṇa

juhvāno gni-mukhaḿ haram

 

iti — thus; ādiṣṭaḥ — instructed; tam — him (Lord Śiva); asuraḥ — the demon; upādhāvat — worshiped; sva — his own; gātrataḥ — from the bodily limbs; kedāre — at the holy place Kedāranātha; ātma — his own; kravyeṇa — with the flesh; juhvānaḥ — offering oblations; agni — the fire; mukham — whose mouth; haram — Lord Śiva.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Thus advised, the demon proceeded to worship Lord Śiva at Kedāranātha by taking pieces of flesh from his own body and offering them as oblations into the sacred fire, which is Lord Śiva's mouth.

 

10.88.18-19

devopalabdhim aprāpya

nirvedāt saptame 'hani

śiro 'vṛścat sudhitinā

tat-tīrtha-klinna-mūrdhajam

 

tadā mahā-kāruṇiko sa dhūrjaṭir

yathā vayaḿ cāgnir ivotthito 'nalāt

nigṛhya dorbhyāḿ bhujayor nyavārayat

tat-sparśanād bhūya upaskṛtākṛtiḥ

 

deva — of the lord; upalabdhim — sight; aprāpya — not obtaining; nirvedāt — out of frustration; saptame — on the seventh; ahani — day; śiraḥ — his head; avṛścat — was about to cut off; sudhitinā — with a hatchet; tat — of that (Kedāranātha); tīrtha — in (waters of) the holy place; klinna — having wetted; mūrdha-jam — the hair of his head;

 

tadā — then; mahā — supremely; kāruṇikaḥ — merciful; saḥ — he; dhūrjaṭiḥ — Lord Śiva; yathā — just as; vayam — we; ca — also; agniḥ — the god of fire; iva — appearing like; utthitaḥ — risen; analāt — from the fire; nigṛhya — seizing; dorbhyām — with his arms; bhujayoḥ — his (Vṛka's) arms; nyavārayat — he stopped him; tat — his (Lord Śiva's); sparśanāt — by the touch; bhūyaḥ — again; upaskṛta — well formed; ākṛtiḥ — his body.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Vṛkāsura became frustrated aher failing to obtain a vision of the lord. Finally, on the seventh day, after dipping his hair into the holy waters at Kedāranātha and leaving it wet, he took up a hatchet and prepared to cut off his head. But at that very moment the supremely merciful Lord Śiva rose up out of the sacrificial fire, looking like the god of fire himself, and grabbed both arms of the demon to stop him from killing himself, just as we would do. By Lord Śiva's touch, Vṛkāsura once again became whole.

 

10.88.20

tam āha cāńgālam alaḿ vṛṇīṣva me

yathābhikāmaḿ vitarāmi te varam

prīyeya toyena nṛṇāḿ prapadyatām

aho tvayātmā bhṛśam ardyate vṛthā

 

tam — to him; āha — he (Lord Śiva) said; ca — and; ańga — my dear; alam alam — enough, enough; vṛṇīṣva — please choose a benediction; me — from me; yathā — howsoever; abhikāmam — you desire; vitarāmi — I will bestow; te — to you; varam — your chosen boon; prīyeya — I become pleased; toyena — with water; nṛṇām — from persons; prapadyatām — who approach me for shelter; aho — ah; tvayā — by you; ātmā — your body; bhṛśam — excessively; ardyate — tormented; vṛthā — in vain.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Śiva said to him: My friend, please stop, stop! Ask from me whatever you want, and I will bestow that boon upon you. Alas, you have subjected your body to great torment for no reason, since I am pleased with a simple offering of water from those who approach me for shelter.

 

10.88.21

devaḿ sa vavre pāpīyān

varaḿ bhūta-bhayāvaham

yasya yasya karaḿ śīrṣṇi

dhāsye sa mriyatām iti

 

devam — from the lord; saḥ — he; vavre — chose; pāpīyān — the sinful demon; varam — a benediction; bhūta — to all living beings; bhaya — fear; āvaham — bringing; yasya yasya — of whomever; karam — my hand; śīrṣṇi — on the head; dhāsye — I place; saḥ — he; mriyatām — should die; iti — thus.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] The benediction sinful Vṛka chose from the lord would terrify all living beings. Vṛka said, "May death come to whomever I touch upon the head with my hand."

 

10.88.22

tac chrutvā bhagavān rudro

durmanā iva bhārata

oḿ iti prahasaḿs tasmai

dade 'her amṛtaḿ yathā

 

tat — this; śrutvā — hearing; bhagavān rudraḥ — Lord Rudra; durmanāḥ — displeased; iva — as if; bhārata — O descendant of Bharata; oḿ iti — vibrating the sacred syllable oḿ as a sign of assent; prahasan — smiling broadly; tasmai — to him; dade — he gave it; aheḥ — to a snake; amṛtam — nectar; yathā — as.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Upon hearing this, Lord Rudra seemed somewhat disturbed. Nonetheless, O descendant of Bharata, he vibrated oḿ to signify his assent, granting Vṛka the benediction with an ironic smile, as if giving milk to a poisonous snake.

 

10.88.23

sa tad-vara-parīkṣārthaḿ

śambhor mūrdhni kilāsuraḥ

sva-hastaḿ dhātum ārebhe

so 'bibhyat sva-kṛtāc chivaḥ

 

saḥ — he; tat — his (Lord Śiva's); vara — the benediction; parīkṣā-artham — in order to test; śambhoḥ — of Lord Śiva; mūrdhni — on the head; kila — indeed; asuraḥ — the demon; sva — his own; hastam — hand; dhātum — to put; ārebhe — he tried; saḥ — he; abibhyat — became afraid; sva — by himself; kṛtāt — because of what had been done; śivaḥ — Lord Śiva.

 

TRANSLATION

 

To test Lord Śambhu's benediction, the demon then tried to put his hand on the Lord's head. Thus Śiva was frightened because of what he himself had done.

 

10.88.24

tenopasṛṣṭaḥ santrastaḥ

parādhāvan sa-vepathuḥ

yāvad antaḿ divo bhūmeḥ

kaṣṭhānām udagād udak

 

tena — by him; upasṛṣṭaḥ — being pursued; santrastaḥ — terrified; parādhāvan — fleeing; sa — with; vepathuḥ — trembling; yāvat — as far as; antam — the ends; divaḥ — of the sky; bhūmeḥ — of the earth; kāṣṭhānām — and of the directions; udagāt — he went swiftly; udak — from the north.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As the demon pursued him, Lord Śiva fled swiftly from his abode in the north, shaking with terror. He ran as far as the limits of the earth, the sky and the corners of the universe.

 

10.88.25-26

ajānantaḥ prati-vidhiḿ

tūṣṇīm āsan sureśvarāḥ

tato vaikuṇṭham agamad

bhāsvaraḿ tamasaḥ param

 

yatra nārāyaṇaḥ sākṣān

nyāsināḿ paramo gatiḥ

śāntānāḿ nyasta-daṇḍānāḿ

yato nāvartate gataḥ

 

ajānantaḥ — not knowing; prati-vidhim — counteraction; tūṣṇīm — silent; āsan — remained; sura — of the demigods; īśvarāḥ — the lords; tataḥ — then; vaikuṇṭham — to Vaikuṇṭha, the kingdom of God; agamat — he came; bhāsvaram — luminous; tamasaḥ — darkness; param — beyond;

 

yatra — where; nārāyaṇaḥ — Nārāyaṇa; sākṣāt — directly visible; nyāsinām — of sannyāsīs; paramaḥ — the Supreme Lord; gatiḥ — goal; śāntānām — who are peaceful; nyasta — who have renounced; daṇḍānām — violence; yataḥ — from which; na āvartate — one does not return; gataḥ — having gone.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great demigods could only remain silent, not knowing how to counteract the benediction. Then Lord Śiva reached the luminous realm of Vaikuṇṭha, beyond all darkness, where the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa is manifest. That realm is the destination of renunciants who have attained peace and given up all violence against other creatures. Going there, one never returns.

 

10.88.27-28

taḿ tathā vyasanaḿ dṛṣṭvā

bhagavān vṛjinārdanaḥ

dūrāt pratyudiyād bhūtvā

baṭuko yoga-māyayā

 

mekhalājina-daṇḍākṣais

tejasāgnir iva jvalan

abhivādayām āsa ca taḿ

kuśa-pāṇir vinīta-vat

 

tam — that; tathā — thus; vyasanam — danger; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; vṛjina — of distress; ardanaḥ — the eradicator; dūrāt — from a distance; pratyudiyāt — he came before (Vṛkāsura); bhūtvā — becoming; baṭukaḥ — a young brāhmaṇa student; yoga-māyayā — by the mystic power of His internal energy;

 

mekhala — with a student's belt; ajina — deerskin; daṇḍa — rod; akṣaiḥ — and prayer beads; tejasā — by His effulgence; agniḥ iva — like fire; jvalan — glowing; abhivādayām āsa — He respectfully greeted; ca — and; tam — him; kuśa-pāṇiḥ — with kuśa grass in His hands; vinīta-vat — in a humble manner.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Lord, who relieves His devotees' distress, had seen from afar that Lord Śiva was in danger. Thus by His mystic Yogamāyā potency He assumed the form of a brahmacārī student, with the appropriate belt, deerskin, rod and prayer beads, and came before Vṛkāsura. The Lord's effulgence glowed brilliantly like fire. Holding kuśa grass in His hand, He humbly greeted the demon.

 

10.88.29

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

śākuneya bhavān vyaktaḿ

śrāntaḥ kiḿ dūram āgataḥ

kṣaṇaḿ viśramyatāḿ puḿsa

ātmāyaḿ sarva-kāma-dhuk

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; śākuneya — O son of Śakuni; bhavān — you; vyaktam — evidently; śrāntaḥ — are fatigued; kim — for what reason; dūram — far; āgataḥ — have come; kṣaṇam — for a minute; viśramyatām — please rest; puḿsaḥ — of a person; ātmā — body; ayam — this; sarva — all; kāma — desires; dhuk — bestowing like a cow's milk.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Lord said: My dear son of Śakuni, you appear tired. Why have you come such a great distance? Please rest for a minute. After all, it is one's body that fulfills all one's desires.

 

10.88.30

yadi naḥ śravaṇāyālaḿ

yuṣmad-vyavasitaḿ vibho

bhaṇyatāḿ prāyaśaḥ pumbhir

dhṛtaiḥ svārthān samīhate

 

yadi — if; naḥ — Our; śravaṇāya — for the hearing; alam — suitable; yuṣmat — your; vyavasitam — intention; vibho — O powerful one; bhaṇyatām — please tell; prāyaśaḥ — usually; pumbhiḥ — with persons; dhṛtaiḥ — taken help of; sva — one's own; arthān — purposes; samīhate — one accomplishes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O mighty one, please tell Us what you intend to do, if We are qualified to hear it. Usually one accomplishes his purposes by taking help from others.

 

10.88.31

śrī-śuka uvāca

evaḿ bhagavatā pṛṣṭo

vacasāmṛta-varṣiṇā

gata-klamo 'bravīt tasmai

yathā-pūrvam anuṣṭhitam

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam — thus; bhagavatā — by the Supreme Lord; pṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; vacasā — with words; amṛta — nectar; varṣiṇā — which rained; gata — gone; klamaḥ — his fatigue; abravīt — he said; tasmai — to Him; yathā — as; pūrvam — before; anuṣṭhitam — executed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus questioned by the Personality of Godhead in language that poured down upon him like sweet nectar, Vṛka felt relieved of his fatigue. He described to the Lord everything he had done.

 

10.88.32

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

evaḿ cet tarhi tad-vākyaḿ

na vayaḿ śraddadhīmahi

yo dakṣa-śāpāt paiśācyaḿ

prāptaḥ preta-piśāca-rāṭ

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said; evam — such; cet — if; tarhi — then; tat — his; vākyam — in the statements; na — not; vayam — We; śraddadhīmahi — can place faith; yaḥ — who; dakṣa-śāpāt — by the curse of Dakṣa Prajāpati; paiśācyam — the qualities of the Piśācas (a class of carnivorous demons); prāptaḥ — obtained; preta-piśāca — of the Pretas (ghosts) and Piśācas; rāṭ — the king.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Lord said: If this is the case, We cannot believe what Śiva says. Śiva is the same lord of the Pretas and Piśācas whom Dakṣa cursed to become like a carnivorous hobgoblin.

 

10.88.33

yadi vas tatra viśrambho

dānavendra jagad-gurau

tarhy ańgāśu sva-śirasi

hastaḿ nyasya pratīyatām

 

yadi — if; vaḥ — your; tatra — in him; viśrambhaḥ — faith; dānava-indra — O best of the demons; jagat — of the universe; gurau — as the spiritual master; tarhi — then; ańga — My dear friend; āśu — right now; sva — your own; śirasi — on the head; hastam — your hand; nyasya — placing; pratīyatām — just observe.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O best of the demons, if you have any faith in him because he is the spiritual master of the universe, then without delay put your hand on your head and see what happens.

 

10.88.34

yady asatyaḿ vacaḥ śambhoḥ

kathañcid dānavarṣabha

tadainaḿ jahy asad-vācaḿ

na yad vaktānṛtaḿ punaḥ

 

yadi — if; asatyam — untrue; vacaḥ — the words; śambhoḥ — of Lord Śiva; kathañcit — in any way; dānava-ṛṣabha — O best of the demons; tadā — then; enam — him; jahi — please kill; asat — untrue; vācam — whose words; na — not; yat — so that; vaktā — he may speak; anṛtam — what is false; punaḥ — again.

 

TRANSLATION

 

If the words of Lord Śambhu prove untrue in any way, O best of the demons, then kill the liar so he may never lie again.

 

10.88.35

itthaḿ bhagavataś citrair

vacobhiḥ sa su-peśalaiḥ

bhinna-dhīr vismṛtaḥ śīrṣṇi

sva-hastaḿ kumatir nyadhāt

 

ittham — in this manner; bhagavataḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; citraiḥ — wonderful; vacobhiḥ — by the words; saḥ — he (Vṛka); su — very; peśalaiḥ — clever; bhinna — bewildered; dhīḥ — his mind; vismṛtaḥ — forgetting; śīrṣṇi — on his head; sva — his own; hastam — hand; ku-matiḥ — foolish; nyadhāt — placed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Thus bewildered by the Personality of Godhead's enchanting, artful words, foolish Vṛka, without realizing what he was doing, placed his hand on his head.

 

10.88.36

athāpatad bhinna-śirāḥ

vrajāhata iva kṣaṇāt

jaya-śabdo namaḥ-śabdaḥ

sādhu-śabdo 'bhavad divi

 

atha — then; apatat — he fell down; bhinna — shattered; śirāḥ — his head; vraja — by a lightning bolt; āhataḥ — struck; iva — as if; kṣaṇāt — in a fraction of a second; jaya — "victory!"; śabdaḥ — the sound; namaḥ — "homage!"; śabdaḥ — the sound; sādhu — "well done!"; śabdaḥ — the sound; abhavat — happened; divi — in the sky.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Instantly his head shattered as if struck by a lightning bolt, and the demon fell down dead. From the sky were heard cries of "Victory!" "Obeisances!" and "Well done!"

 

10.88.37

mumucuḥ puṣpa-varṣāṇi

hate pāpe vṛkāsure

devarṣi-pitṛ-gandharvā

mocitaḥ sańkaṭāc chivaḥ

 

mumucuḥ — they released; puṣpa — of flowers; varṣāṇi — rain; hate — having been killed; pāpe — the sinful; vṛka-asure — demon Vṛka; deva-ṛṣi — the celestial sages; pitṛ — departed forefathers; gandharvāḥ — and singers of heaven; mocitaḥ — freed; sańkaṭāt — from danger; śivaḥ — Lord Śiva.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The celestial sages, Pitās and Gandharvas rained down flowers to celebrate the killing of sinful Vṛkāsura. Now Lord Śiva was out of danger.

 

10.88.38-39

muktaḿ giriśam abhyāha

bhagavān puruṣottamaḥ

aho deva mahā-deva

pāpo 'yaḿ svena pāpmanā

 

hataḥ ko nu mahatsv īśa

jantur vai kṛta-kilbiṣaḥ

kṣemī syāt kim u viśveśe

kṛtāgasko jagad-gurau

 

muktam — delivered; giriśam — Lord Śiva; abhyāha — addressed; bhagavān puruṣa-uttamaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Nārāyaṇa); aho — ah; deva — My dear lord; mahā-deva — Śiva; pāpaḥ — sinful; ayam — this person; svena — by his own; pāpmanā — sins;

 

hataḥ — killed; kaḥ — what; nu — indeed; mahatsu — toward elevated saints; īśa — O master; jantuḥ — living being; vai — indeed; kṛta — having done; kilbiṣaḥ — offense; kṣemī — fortunate; syāt — can be; kim u — what to speak, moreover; viśva — of the universe; īśe — against the lord (you); kṛta-āgaskaḥ — having committed offense; jagat — of the universe; gurau — the spiritual master.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead then addressed Lord Giriśa, who was now out of danger: "Just see, O Mahādeva, My lord, how this wicked man has been killed by his own sinful reactions. Indeed, what living being can hope for good fortune if he offends exalted saints, what to speak of offending the lord and spiritual master of the universe?"

 

10.88.40

ya evam avyākṛta-śakty-udanvataḥ

parasya sākṣāt paramātmano hareḥ

giritra-mokṣaḿ kathayec chṛṇoti vā

vimucyate saḿsṛtibhis tathāribhiḥ

 

yaḥ — whoever; evam — thus; avyākṛta — inconceivable; śakti — of energies; udanvataḥ — of the ocean; parasya — the Supreme; sākṣāt — personally manifest; parama-ātmanaḥ — of the Supersoul; hareḥ — Lord Hari; giritra — of Lord Śiva; mokṣam — the saving; kathayet — recites; śṛṇoti — hears; vā — or; vimucyate — is freed; saḿsṛtibhiḥ — from repeated births and deaths; tathā — as well as; aribhiḥ — from enemies.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Hari is the directly manifest Absolute Truth, the Supreme Soul and unlimited ocean of inconceivable energies. Anyone who recites or hears this pastime of His saving Lord Śiva will be freed from all enemies and the repetition of birth and death.