Source
Texts:
Lord
S'iva Saved from Vrikâsura
Text
1
The honorable
king [Parîkchit] said: 'The godly, the ones of
darkness and the humans who worship the austere lord S'iva, are
usually rich and enjoy the senses, but not so those of
Lakshmî and her Husband the Lord Hari.
King
Parîkchit said: Those demigods, demons and humans who
worship Lord S'iva, 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.
Text
2
On
our part indeed of great doubt in this, we wish to understand
this matter of the destinations of the worshipers of the two
lords so opposite of character. '
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.
Text
3
S'rî
S'uka said: 'S'iva, always united with his s'akti,
is prayed to in his three manifest features of
guna:
the emotion [his sattva], the authority [his
rajas] and the inertia [his tamas], and is thus the
[embodiment of the] threefold of ego.
S'rî
S'ukadeva said: Lord S'iva 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.
Text
4
From
that have the sixteen transformations
[lingas]
manifested
of which someone, pursuing any of these, enjoys the acquisition
of material assets [see under S'iva].
The
sixteen elements have evolved as transformations of that
false ego. When a devotee of Lord S'iva worships his
manifestation in any one of these elements, the devotee
obtains all sorts of corresponding enjoyable
opulences.
Text
5
Lord
Hari however is, indeed absolutely untouched by the modes, the
Original Person transcendental to material nature; He is the
witness seeing everything, by worshiping Him one becomes free
from the gunas.
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.
Text
6
Your
grandfather the king [Yudishthhira] asked Acyuta this
as he was hearing from Him about the dharma.
Your
grandfather, King Yudhishthhira, after completing his
As'vamedha sacrifices, asked Lord Acyuta this very same
question while hearing the Lord's explanation of religious
principles.
Text
7
He,
the Supreme Lord, his Master, who for the sake of the ultimate
benefit of all men had descended into the Yadu-family, then
spoke pleased to him who was eagerly listening.
This
question pleased S'rî Krishna, 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.
Text
8
The
Supreme Lord said: 'From the one I favor I gradually take away
the wealth, after which then poor, suffering one distress after
another, that person will be abandoned by his own
[attached] people [see also 7.15:
15,
9.21:
12,
10.81:
14
& 20,
10.87:
40,
B.G. 9:
22].
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.
Text
9
When
he futile in his attempts to serve the capital gets frustrated
and makes friends with those devoted to Me, will I show My
mercy.
When
he becomes frustrated in his attempts to make money and
instead befriends My devotees, I bestow My special mercy
upon him.
Text
10
Sober
with the wisdom understanding that the subtle, pure, eternal
spirit of the Supreme Brahman is one's true self, is one freed
from samsâra.
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.
Text
11
For that reason
leaving aside Me so most difficult to worship, do people
worship others of which they, quickly finding satisfaction in
receiving royal opulence, become arrogant, proud and negligent
and they, surprisingly, insult those who gave the benedictions
[see also B.G. 2.42:
44 ;
4:
12;
7:
20-25;
17:
22,
18:
28].'
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.
Text
12
S'rî
S'uka said: 'Brahmâ, S'iva and others are capable of
cursing and showing favor; Brahmâ and S'iva are quick
with their condemnations and blessings, my dear King, but the
Infallible One [Vishnu] is not.
S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî said: Lord Brahmâ, Lord Vishnu,
Lord S'iva and others are able to curse or bless one. Lord
S'iva and Lord Brahmâ are very quick to curse or
bestow benedictions, my dear King, but the infallible
Supreme Lord is not.
Text
13
In this
connection is as an example the following ancient story told of
Giris'a
running into danger by offering a choice of benedictions to the
Vrikâsura.
In
this connection, an ancient historical account is related
concerning how the Lord of Kailâsa Mountain was put
into danger by offering a choice of benedictions to the
demon Vrika.
Text
14
An
asura named Vrika, a son of S'akuni [see
9.24:
5],
meeting Nârada on the road, wickedly asked which of the
three lords was most quickly pleased.
The
demon named Vrika, a son of S'akuni's, once met Nârada
on the road. The wicked fellow asked him which of the three
chief gods could be pleased most quickly.
Text
15
He
said: 'For quick success you better worship S'iva, he is as
quickly satisfied by quality as he is angered by
faults.
Nârada
told him: Worship Lord S'iva 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.
Text
16
Satisfied
with Ten-head [Râvana] and with
Bâna
who like minstrels sang his glories, got he in great trouble
[though] giving them unequaled power.'
He
became pleased with ten-headed Râvana, and also with
Bâna, when they each chanted his glories, like bards
in a royal court. Lord S'iva then bestowed unprecedented
power upon each of them, but in both cases he was
consequently beset with great difficulty.
Text
17
Thus
informed worshiped the asura him at Kedâra [in the
Himalayas] by offering oblations of flesh from his own
limbs into the fire that is S'iva's mouth.
[S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî continued:] Thus advised, the demon
proceeded to worship Lord S'iva at Kedâranâtha
by taking pieces of flesh from his own body and offering
them as oblations into the sacred fire, which is Lord
S'iva's mouth.
Text
18-19
Out
of frustration to obtain the sight of the lord, was he the
seventh day with his hair wetted in the waters of that holy
place, about to cut off his head with a hatchet. But then
supremely merciful rising from the fire looking like Agni
stopped he him seizing his arms and restored he his body on the
touch, just like we would.
Vrikâsura
became frustrated after failing to obtain a vision of the
lord. Finally, on the seventh day, after dipping his hair
into the holy waters at Kedâranâtha 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
S'iva 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
S'iva's touch, Vrikâsura once again became
whole.
Text
20
He
told him: 'Enough, enough, dear man, please listen, choose a
benediction from me, I'll bestow upon you whatever boon you
desire; ah, your greatly tormenting your body is useless, I am
pleased by persons who with water approach me for shelter
[see also B.G. 17:
5-6]!'
Lord
S'iva 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.
Text
21
From the god
chose the sinner a benediction that brought fear to all living
beings as he said: 'May whomever die on whose head I place my
hand!'
[S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî continued:] The benediction sinful
Vrika chose from the lord would terrify all living beings.
Vrika said, "May death come to whomever I touch upon the
head with my hand."
Text
22
O son of
Bharata, Rudra hearing this, disgruntled vibrated om and
granted it him with an ironic smile; it was like giving milk to
a snake [see also 10.16:
37].
Upon
hearing this, Lord Rudra seemed somewhat disturbed.
Nonetheless, O descendant of Bharata, he vibrated om to
signify his assent, granting Vrika the benediction with an
ironic smile, as if giving milk to a poisonous snake.
Text
23
To put the
benediction to a test tried he - the demon indeed - to put his
own hand on S'iva's head, terrifying him over what he just had
done.
To
test Lord S'ambhu's benediction, the demon then tried to put
his hand on the Lord's head. Thus S'iva was frightened
because of what he himself had done.
Text
24
Pursued
by him he trembling of fear fled from the north [of his
residence] to as far as the limits of the earth and the sky
in all directions.
As
the demon pursued him, Lord S'iva 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.
Text
25-26
Not
knowing how to counteract remained the godly lords silent,
whereupon he came to Vaikunthha, the place luminous beyond all
darkness from where the renunciates - who in peace renounced
the violence - do not return once they're gone with
Nârâyana the Supreme Goal directly visible residing
there [see also S'vetadvîpa].
The
great demigods could only remain silent, not knowing how to
counteract the benediction. Then Lord S'iva reached the
luminous realm of Vaikunthha, beyond all darkness, where the
Supreme Lord Nârâyana 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.
Text
27-28
The
Supreme Lord, the Eradicator of Distress, thus from a distance
seeing that danger, came up to him having turned Himself by His
yogamâyâ
into a young brahmin student. Complete with a belt, deerskin,
rod and prayer beads He with His effulgence glowed like fire as
He respectfully greeted him humbly with kus'a grass in His
hands.
The
Supreme Lord, who relieves His devotees' distress, had seen
from afar that Lord S'iva was in danger. Thus by His mystic
Yogamâyâ potency He assumed the form of a
brahmacârî student, with the appropriate belt,
deerskin, rod and prayer beads, and came before
Vrikâsura. The Lord's effulgence glowed brilliantly
like fire. Holding kus'a grass in His hand, He humbly
greeted the demon.
Text
29
The
Supreme Lord said: 'Dear son of S'akuni, you seem to be tired,
for what reason have you come from so far, please rest a
minute; shouldn't this personal body be the fulfillment of all
desires?
The
Supreme Lord said: My dear son of S'akuni, 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.
Text
30
If
suitable to Our ear, o mighty one, please tell Us what you have
in mind; usually accomplishes one one's purposes with the help
of others!'
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.
Text
31
S'rî
S'uka said: 'Thus questioned by the Supreme Lord with words
raining like nectar, vanished all his fatigue and told he Him
what he had done.
S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî said: Thus questioned by the Personality
of Godhead in language that poured down upon him like sweet
nectar, Vrika felt relieved of his fatigue. He described to
the Lord everything he had done.
Text
32
The Supreme
Lord said [then to Vrika]: 'If that is the case, We
can't put faith in his statements, since he's the one cursed by
Daksha to become diabolical as the king of the ghosts and
devils [see 4.2:
9-16].
The
Supreme Lord said: If this is the case, We cannot believe
what S'iva says. S'iva is the same lord of the Pretas and
Pis'âcas whom Daksha cursed to become like a
carnivorous hobgoblin.
Text
33
If you put
faith in him as the 'spiritual master of the universe', then
dear friend, just see right now what happens if you place your
hand on your own head!
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.
Text
34
If
S'ambhu's
words any way prove to be false, o best of the dânavas,
then please kill him so untrue in his words, so that he never
speaks a lie again.'
If
the words of Lord S'ambhu prove untrue in any way, O best of
the demons, then kill the liar so he may never lie
again.
Text
35
He this manner
bewildered by the words so very clever of the Supreme Lord,
dropping his mind, foolishly placed his hand on his own
head.
[S'ukadeva
Gosvâmî continued:] Thus bewildered by the
Personality of Godhead's enchanting, artful words, foolish
Vrika, without realizing what he was doing, placed his hand
on his head.
Text
36
Then
with his head instantly shattered like being hit by lightening,
fell he down and could from the sky the sounds of 'Victory!',
'Hail!' and 'Good so!' be heard.
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!"
Text
37
With
S'iva freed from the danger now the sinful asura Vrika was
killed, released the celestial sages, the ancestors and the
singers of heaven a rain of flowers.
The
celestial sages, Pitâs and Gandharvas rained down
flowers to celebrate the killing of sinful Vrikâsura.
Now Lord S'iva was out of danger.
Text
38-39
Bhagavân,
the Supreme Personality, then addressed the delivered Giris'a:
'Ah, dear Mahâdeva, how this sinner was killed by his own
sinfulness! What fortune indeed, o master, can there be for a
living being who was of offense with the elevated saints, not
to mention having been in offense with the Lord of the
Universe, the Guru of the Living Being. [see also
1.18:
42,
7.4:
20
and B.G. 16:
23]
The
Supreme Personality of Godhead then addressed Lord Giris'a,
who was now out of danger: "Just see, O Mahâdeva, 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?"
Text
40
Whoever hears
of or recites this saving of lord S'iva by the Lord of the
Supersoul, the Inconceivable Personal Manifestation of the
Ocean of All Energies, is freed from as well enemies as from
the repetition of birth and death.
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 S'iva
will be freed from all enemies and the repetition of birth
and death.
