Hari
09-09-2004, 08:13 AM
SB 10.88.14 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/14/en): The demon named Vṛka (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/v/vrka), a son of Śakuni's, once met Nārada (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/n/narada) on the road. The wicked fellow asked him which of the three chief gods could be pleased most quickly.
SB 10.88.15 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/15/en): Nārada (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/n/narada) told him: Worship Lord Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) 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.
SB 10.88.16 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/16/en): He became pleased with ten-headed Rāvaṇa (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/r/ravana), and also with Bāṇa (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/b/bana), when they each chanted his glories, like bards in a royal court. Lord Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) then bestowed unprecedented power upon each of them, but in both cases he was consequently beset with great difficulty.
SB 10.88.17 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/17/en): [Śukadeva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/sukadeva) Gosvāmī continued:] Thus advised, the demon proceeded to worship Lord Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) at Kedāranātha by taking pieces of flesh from his own body and offering them as oblations into the sacred fire, which is Lord Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva)'s mouth.
SB 10.88.18-19 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/18-19/en): 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 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) rose (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/r/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 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva)'s touch, Vṛkāsura once again became whole.
SB 10.88.20 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/20/en): Lord Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) 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.
SB 10.88.21 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/21/en): [Śukadeva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/sukadeva) Gosvāmī continued:] The benediction sinful Vṛka (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/v/vrka) chose from the lord would terrify all living beings. Vṛka (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/v/vrka) said, "May death come to whomever I touch upon the head with my hand."
SB 10.88.22 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/22/en): Upon hearing this, Lord Rudra (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/r/rudra) seemed somewhat disturbed. Nonetheless, O descendant of Bharata (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/b/bharata), he vibrated oḿ (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/o/om) to signify his assent, granting Vṛka (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/v/vrka) the benediction with an ironic smile, as if giving milk to a poisonous snake.
SB 10.88.23 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/23/en): To test Lord Śambhu's benediction, the demon then tried to put his hand on the Lord's head. Thus Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) was frightened because of what he himself had done.
SB 10.88.24 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/24/en): As the demon pursued him, Lord Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) 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.
SB 10.88.25-26 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/25-26/en): The great demigods could only remain silent, not knowing how to counteract the benediction. Then Lord Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) reached the luminous realm of Vaikuṇṭha (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/v/vaikuntha), beyond all darkness, where the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/n/narayana) 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.
SB 10.88.15 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/15/en): Nārada (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/n/narada) told him: Worship Lord Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) 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.
SB 10.88.16 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/16/en): He became pleased with ten-headed Rāvaṇa (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/r/ravana), and also with Bāṇa (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/b/bana), when they each chanted his glories, like bards in a royal court. Lord Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) then bestowed unprecedented power upon each of them, but in both cases he was consequently beset with great difficulty.
SB 10.88.17 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/17/en): [Śukadeva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/sukadeva) Gosvāmī continued:] Thus advised, the demon proceeded to worship Lord Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) at Kedāranātha by taking pieces of flesh from his own body and offering them as oblations into the sacred fire, which is Lord Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva)'s mouth.
SB 10.88.18-19 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/18-19/en): 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 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) rose (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/r/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 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva)'s touch, Vṛkāsura once again became whole.
SB 10.88.20 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/20/en): Lord Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) 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.
SB 10.88.21 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/21/en): [Śukadeva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/sukadeva) Gosvāmī continued:] The benediction sinful Vṛka (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/v/vrka) chose from the lord would terrify all living beings. Vṛka (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/v/vrka) said, "May death come to whomever I touch upon the head with my hand."
SB 10.88.22 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/22/en): Upon hearing this, Lord Rudra (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/r/rudra) seemed somewhat disturbed. Nonetheless, O descendant of Bharata (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/b/bharata), he vibrated oḿ (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/o/om) to signify his assent, granting Vṛka (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/v/vrka) the benediction with an ironic smile, as if giving milk to a poisonous snake.
SB 10.88.23 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/23/en): To test Lord Śambhu's benediction, the demon then tried to put his hand on the Lord's head. Thus Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) was frightened because of what he himself had done.
SB 10.88.24 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/24/en): As the demon pursued him, Lord Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) 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.
SB 10.88.25-26 (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/10/88/25-26/en): The great demigods could only remain silent, not knowing how to counteract the benediction. Then Lord Śiva (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/s/siva) reached the luminous realm of Vaikuṇṭha (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/v/vaikuntha), beyond all darkness, where the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa (http://srimadbhagavatam.com/n/narayana) 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.