> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 10
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > *******

> > Canto 10: 'Summum Bonum'

> > *******

> > Chapter Eighty-eight: Lord S'iva Saved from Vrikâsura

> > TEXT 1

> > s'rî-râjovâca

> > devâsura-manushyesu

> > ye bhajanty as'ivam s'ivam

> > prâyas te dhanino bhojâ

> > na tu lakshmyâh patim harim

> > s'rî-râjâ uvâca - the King (Parîkchit) said; deva - among demigods; asura - demons; manushyeshu - and humans; ye - who; bhajanti - worship; as'ivam - austere; s'ivam - Lord S'iva; prâyah - usually; te - they; dhaninah - rich; bhojâh - enjoyers of sense gratification; na - not; tu - however; lakshmyâh - of the goddess of fortune; patim - the husband; harim - Lord Hari.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > etad veditum icchâmah

> > sandeho 'tra mahân hi nah

> > viruddha-s'îlayoh prabhvor

> > viruddhâ bhajatâm gatih

> > etat - this; veditum - to understand; icchâmah - we wish; sandehah - doubt; atra - in this matter; mahân - great; hi - indeed; nah - on our part; viruddha - opposite; s'îlayoh - whose characters; prabhvoh - of the two lords; viruddhâ - opposite; bhajatâm - of their worshipers; gatih - 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > s'ivah s'akti-yutah s'as'vat

> > tri-lingo guna-samvritah

> > vaikârikas taijasas' ca

> > tâmasas' cety aham tridhâ

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'rî S'uka said; s'ivah - Lord S'iva; s'akti - with his energy, material nature; yatah - united; s'as'vat - always; tri - three; lingah - whose manifest features; guna - by the modes; samvritah - prayed to; vaikârikah - false ego in the mode of goodness; taijasah - false ego in the mode of passion; ca - and; tâmasah - false ego in mode of ignorance; ca - and; iti - thus; aham - the principle of material ego; tridhâ - threefold.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > tato vikârâ abhavan

> > shodas'âmîshu kan'cana

> > upadhâvan vibhûtînâm

> > sarvâsâm as'nute gatim

> > tatah - from that (false ego); vikârâh - transformations; abhavan - have manifested; shodas'a - sixteen; amîshu - among these; kan'cana - any; upadhâvan - pursuing; vibhûtînâm - of material assets; sarvâsâm - all; as'nute - enjoys; gatim - the acquisition.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > harir hi nirgunah sâkshât

> > purushah prakriteh parah

> > sa sarva-drig upadrashthâ

> > tam bhajan nirguno bhavet

> > harih - the Supreme Lord Hari; hi - indeed; nirgunah - untouched by the material modes; sâkshât - absolutely; purushah - the Personality of Godhead; prakriteh - to material nature; parah - transcendental; sah - He; sarva - everything; drik - seeing; upadrashthâ - the witness; tam - Him; bhajan - by worshiping; nirgunah - 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 6

> > nivritteshv as'va-medheshu

> > râjâ yushmat-pitâmahah

> > s'rinvan bhagavato dharmân

> > apricchad idam acyutam

> > nivritteshu - when they were completed; as'va-medheshu - his performances of the horse sacrifice; râjâ - the King (Yudhishthhira); yushmat - your (Parîkchit's); pitâmahâh - grandfather; s'rinvan - while hearing; bhagavatah - from the Supreme Lord (Krishna); dharmân - religious principles; apricchat - he asked; idam - this; acyutam - of Lord Krishna.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > sa âha bhagavâms tasmai

> > prîtah s'us'rûshave prabhuh

> > nrinâm nihs'reyasârthâya

> > yo 'vatîrno yadoh kule

> > sah - He; âha - said; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; tasmai - to him; prîtah - pleased; s'us'rûshave - who was eager to hear; prabhuh - his master; nrinâm - of all men; nihs'reyasa - of ultimate benefit; arthâya - for the sake; yah - who; avatîrnah - descended; yadoh - of King Yadu; kule - in the family.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca

> > yasyâham anugrihnâmi

> > harishye tad-dhanam s'anaih

> > tato 'dhanam tyajanty asya

> > svajanâ duhkha-duhkhitam

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca - the Personality of Godhead said; yasya - whom; aham - I; anugrihnâmi - favor; harishye - I will take away; tat - his; dhanam - wealth; s'anaih - gradually; tatah - then; adhanam - poor; tyajanti - abandon; asya - his; sva- janâh - relatives and friends; duhkha-duhkhitam - 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > sa yadâ vitathodyogo

> > nirvinnah syâd dhanehayâ

> > mat-paraih krita-maitrasya

> > karishye mad-anugraham

> > sah - he; yadâ - when; vitatha - useless; udyogah - his attempt; nirvinnah - frustrated; syât - becomes; dhana - for money; îhayâ - with his endeavor; mat - to Me; paraih - with those who are devoted; krita - for him who has made; maitrasya - friendship; karishye - 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > tad brahma paramam sûkshmam

> > cin-mâtram sad anantakam

> > vijn'âyâtmatayâ dhîrah

> > samsârât parimucyate

> > tat - that; brahma - impersonal Brahman; paramam - supreme; sûkshmam - subtle; cit - spirit; mâtram - pure; sat - eternal existence; anantakam - without end; vijn'âya - understanding with thorough realization; âtmatayâ - as one's true Self; dhîrah - sober; samsârât - from material life; parimucyate - one becomes freed.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > ato mâm su-durârâdhyam

> > hitvânyân bhajate janah

> > tatas ta âs'u-toshebhyo

> > labdha-râjya-s'riyoddhatâh

> > mattâh pramattâ vara-dân

> > vismayanty avajânate

> > atah - therefore; mâm - Me; su - very; durârâdhyam - difficult to worship; hitvâ - leaving aside; anyân - others; bhajate - worship; janah - the ordinary populace; tatah - consequently; te - they; âs'u - quickly; toshebhyah - from those who are satisfied; labdha - received; râjya - royal; s'riyâ - by opulence; uddhatâh - made arrogant; mattâh - intoxicated with pride; pramattâh - negligent; vara - of benedictions; dân - the givers; vismayanti - becoming too bold; avajânate - 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > s'âpa-prasâdayor îs'â

> > brahma-vishnu-s'ivâdayah

> > sadyah s'âpa-prasâdo 'nga

> > s'ivo brahmâ na câcyutah

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; s'âpa - in cursing; prasâdayoh - and showing favor; îs'âh - capable; brahma-vishnu-s'iva-âdayah - Brahmâ, Vishnu, S'iva and others; sadyah - quick; s'âpa-prasâdah - whose curse and benediction; anga - my dear (King Parîkchit); s'ivah - Lord S'iva; brahmâ - Lord Brahmâ; na - not; ca - and; acyutah - Lord Vishnu.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > atra codâharantîmam

> > itihâsam purâtanam

> > vrikâsurâya giris'o

> > varam dattvâpa sankatham

> > atra - in this regard; ca - and; udâharanti - they relate as an example; imam - the following; itihâsam - historical account; purâtanam - ancient; vrika-asurâya - to the demon Vrika; giri-s'ah - Lord S'iva, master of Mount Kailâsa; varam - a choice of benedictions; dattvâ - giving; âpa - obtained; sankatham - a dangerous situation.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > vriko nâmâsurah putrah

> > s'akuneh pathi nâradam

> > drishthvâs'u-tosham papraccha

> > deveshu trishu durmatih

> > vrikah - Vrika; nâma - by name; asurah - a demon; putrah - a son; s'akuneh - of S'akuni; pathi - on the road; nâradam - the sage Nârada; drishthvâ - seeing; âs'u - quickly; tosham - pleased; papraccha - he asked about; deveshu - among the lords; trishu - three; durmatih - wicked.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > sa âha devam giris'am

> > upâdhâvâs'u siddhyasi

> > yo 'lpâbhyâm guna-doshâbhyâm

> > âs'u tushyati kupyati

> > sah - he (Nârada); âha - said; devam - the lord; giris'am - S'iva; upâdhâva - you should worship; âs'u - quickly; siddhyasi - you will become successful; yah - who; alpâbhyâm - slight; guna - by good qualities; doshâbhyâm - and faults; âs'u - quickly; tushyati - is satisfied; kupyati - is angered.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > das'âsya-bânayos tushthah

> > stuvator vandinor iva

> > ais'varyam atulam dattvâ

> > tata âpa su-sankatham

> > das'a-âsya - with ten-headed Râvana; bânayoh - and with Bâna; tushthah - satisfied; stuvatoh - who sang his glories; vandinoh iva - like minstrels; ais'varyam - power; atulam - unequaled; dattvâ - giving; tatah - then; âpa - he obtained; su - great; sankatham - difficulty.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > ity âdishthas tam asura

> > upâdhâvat sva-gâtratah

> > kedâra âtma-kravyena

> > juhvâno gni-mukham haram

> > iti - thus; âdishthah - instructed; tam - him (Lord S'iva); asurah - the demon; upâdhâvat - worshiped; sva - his own; gâtratah - from the bodily limbs; kedâre - at the holy place Kedâranâtha; âtma - his own; kravyena - with the flesh; juhvânah - offering oblations; agni - the fire; mukham - whose mouth; haram - Lord S'iva.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [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.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 18 - 19

> > devopalabdhim aprâpya

> > nirvedât saptame 'hani

> > s'iro 'vris'cat sudhitinâ

> > tat-tîrtha-klinna-mûrdhajam

> > tadâ mahâ-kâruniko sa dhûrjathir

> > yathâ vayam câgnir ivotthito 'nalât

> > nigrihya dorbhyâm bhujayor nyavârayat

> > tat-spars'anâd bhûya upaskritâkritih

> > deva - of the lord; upalabdhim - sight; aprâpya - not obtaining; nirvedât - out of frustration; saptame - on the seventh; ahani - day; s'irah - his head; avris'cat - was about to cut off; sudhitinâ - with a hatchet; tat - of that (Kedâranâtha); tîrtha - in (waters of) the holy place; klinna - having wetted; mûrdha-jam - the hair of his head;

> > tadâ - then; mahâ - supremely; kârunikah - merciful; sah - he; dhûrjathih - Lord S'iva; yathâ - just as; vayam - we; ca - also; agnih - the god of fire; iva - appearing like; utthitah - risen; analât - from the fire; nigrihya - seizing; dorbhyâm - with his arms; bhujayoh - his (Vrika's) arms; nyavârayat - he stopped him; tat - his (Lord S'iva's); spars'anât - by the touch; bhûyah - again; upaskrita - well formed; âkritih - his body.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > tam âha cângâlam alam vrinîshva me

> > yathâbhikâmam vitarâmi te varam

> > prîyeya toyena nrinâm prapadyatâm

> > aho tvayâtmâ bhris'am ardyate vrithâ

> > tam - to him; âha - he (Lord S'iva) said; ca - and; anga - my dear; alam alam - enough, enough; vrinîshva - please choose a benediction; me - from me; yathâ - howsoever; abhikâmam - you desire; vitarâmi - I will bestow; te - to you; varam - your chosen boon; prîyeya - I become pleased; toyena - with water; nrinâm - from persons; prapadyatâm - who approach me for shelter; aho - ah; tvayâ - by you; âtmâ - your body; bhris'am - excessively; ardyate - tormented; vrithâ - in vain.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > devam sa vavre pâpîyân

> > varam bhûta-bhayâvaham

> > yasya yasya karam s'îrshni

> > dhâsye sa mriyatâm iti

> > devam - from the lord; sah - he; vavre - chose; pâpîyân - the sinful demon; varam - a benediction; bhûta - to all living beings; bhaya - fear; âvaham - bringing; yasya yasya - of whomever; karam - my hand; s'îrshni - on the head; dhâsye - I place; sah - he; mriyatâm - should die; iti - thus.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [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

> > tac chrutvâ bhagavân rudro

> > durmanâ iva bhârata

> > om iti prahasams tasmai

> > dade 'her amritam yathâ

> > tat - this; s'rutvâ - hearing; bhagavân rudrah - Lord Rudra; durmanâh - displeased; iva - as if; bhârata - O descendant of Bharata; om iti - vibrating the sacred syllable om as a sign of assent; prahasan - smiling broadly; tasmai - to him; dade - he gave it; aheh - to a snake; amritam - nectar; yathâ - as.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > sa tad-vara-parîkshârtham

> > s'ambhor mûrdhni kilâsurah

> > sva-hastam dhâtum ârebhe

> > so 'bibhyat sva-kritâc chivah

> > sah - he; tat - his (Lord S'iva's); vara - the benediction; parîkshâ-artham - in order to test; s'ambhoh - of Lord S'iva; mûrdhni - on the head; kila - indeed; asurah - the demon; sva - his own; hastam - hand; dhâtum - to put; ârebhe - he tried; sah - he; abibhyat - became afraid; sva - by himself; kritât - because of what had been done; s'ivah - Lord S'iva.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > tenopasrishthah santrastah

> > parâdhâvan sa-vepathuh

> > yâvad antam divo bhûmeh

> > kashthhânâm udagâd udak

> > tena - by him; upasrishthah - being pursued; santrastah - terrified; parâdhâvan - fleeing; sa - with; vepathuh - trembling; yâvat - as far as; antam - the ends; divah - of the sky; bhûmeh - of the earth; kâshthhânâm - and of the directions; udagât - he went swiftly; udak - from the north.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 25 - 26

> > ajânantah prati-vidhim

> > tûshnîm âsan sures'varâh

> > tato vaikunthham agamad

> > bhâsvaram tamasah param

> > yatra nârâyanah sâkshân

> > nyâsinâm paramo gatih

> > s'ântânâm nyasta-dandânâm

> > yato nâvartate gatah

> > ajânantah - not knowing; prati-vidhim - counteraction; tûshnîm - silent; âsan - remained; sura - of the demigods; îs'varâh - the lords; tatah - then; vaikunthham - to Vaikunthha, the kingdom of God; agamat - he came; bhâsvaram - luminous; tamasah - darkness; param - beyond;

> > yatra - where; nârâyanah - Nârâyana; sâkshât - directly visible; nyâsinâm - of sannyâsîs; paramah - the Supreme Lord; gatih - goal; s'ântânâm - who are peaceful; nyasta - who have renounced; dandânâm - violence; yatah - from which; na âvartate - one does not return; gatah - having gone.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 27 - 28

> > tam tathâ vyasanam drishthvâ

> > bhagavân vrijinârdanah

> > dûrât pratyudiyâd bhûtvâ

> > bathuko yoga-mâyayâ

> > mekhalâjina-dandâkshais

> > tejasâgnir iva jvalan

> > abhivâdayâm âsa ca tam

> > kus'a-pânir vinîta-vat

> > tam - that; tathâ - thus; vyasanam - danger; drishthvâ - seeing; bhagavân - the Supreme Lord; vrijina - of distress; ardanah - the eradicator; dûrât - from a distance; pratyudiyât - he came before (Vrikâsura); bhûtvâ - becoming; bathukah - a young brâhmana student; yoga-mâyayâ - by the mystic power of His internal energy;

> > mekhala - with a student's belt; ajina - deerskin; danda - rod; akshaih - and prayer beads; tejasâ - by His effulgence; agnih iva - like fire; jvalan - glowing; abhivâdayâm âsa - He respectfully greeted; ca - and; tam - him; kus'a-pânih - with kus'a grass in His hands; vinîta-vat - in a humble manner.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca

> > s'âkuneya bhavân vyaktam

> > s'rântah kim dûram âgatah

> > kshanam vis'ramyatâm pumsa

> > âtmâyam sarva-kâma-dhuk

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca - the Supreme Lord said; s'âkuneya - O son of S'akuni; bhavân - you; vyaktam - evidently; s'rântah - are fatigued; kim - for what reason; dûram - far; âgatah - have come; kshanam - for a minute; vis'ramyatâm - please rest; pumsah - of a person; âtmâ - body; ayam - this; sarva - all; kâma - desires; dhuk - bestowing like a cow's milk.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > PURPORT

> > In Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, S'rîla Prabhupâda comments, "Before the demon could argue that he had no time to take rest, the Lord began to inform him about the importance of the body, and the demon was convinced. Any man, especially a demon, takes his body to be very important."

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > yadi nah s'ravanâyâlam

> > yushmad-vyavasitam vibho

> > bhanyatâm prâyas'ah pumbhir

> > dhritaih svârthân samîhate

> > yadi - if; nah - Our; s'ravanâya - for the hearing; alam - suitable; yushmat - your; vyavasitam - intention; vibho - O powerful one; bhanyatâm - please tell; prâyas'ah - usually; pumbhih - with persons; dhritaih - taken help of; sva - one's own; arthân - purposes; samîhate - 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > evam bhagavatâ prishtho

> > vacasâmrita-varshinâ

> > gata-klamo 'bravît tasmai

> > yathâ-pûrvam anushthhitam

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; evam - thus; bhagavatâ - by the Supreme Lord; prishthah - questioned; vacasâ - with words; amrita - nectar; varshinâ - which rained; gata - gone; klamah - his fatigue; abravît - he said; tasmai - to Him; yathâ - as; pûrvam - before; anushthhitam - executed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca

> > evam cet tarhi tad-vâkyam

> > na vayam s'raddadhîmahi

> > yo daksha-s'âpât pais'âcyam

> > prâptah preta-pis'âca-râth

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca - the Supreme Lord said; evam - such; cet - if; tarhi - then; tat - his; vâkyam - in the statements; na - not; vayam - We; s'raddadhîmahi - can place faith; yah - who; daksha-s'âpât - by the curse of Daksha Prajâpati; pais'âcyam - the qualities of the Pis'âcas (a class of carnivorous demons); prâptah - obtained; preta-pis'âca - of the Pretas (ghosts) and Pis'âcas; râth - the king.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > yadi vas tatra vis'rambho

> > dânavendra jagad-gurau

> > tarhy angâs'u sva-s'irasi

> > hastam nyasya pratîyatâm

> > yadi - if; vah - your; tatra - in him; vis'rambhah - faith; dânava-indra - O best of the demons; jagat - of the universe; gurau - as the spiritual master; tarhi - then; anga - My dear friend; âs'u - right now; sva - your own; s'irasi - on the head; hastam - your hand; nyasya - placing; pratîyatâm - 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > yady asatyam vacah s'ambhoh

> > kathan'cid dânavarshabha

> > tadainam jahy asad-vâcam

> > na yad vaktânritam punah

> > yadi - if; asatyam - untrue; vacah - the words; s'ambhoh - of Lord S'iva; kathan'cit - in any way; dânava-rishabha - O best of the demons; tadâ - then; enam - him; jahi - please kill; asat - untrue; vâcam - whose words; na - not; yat - so that; vaktâ - he may speak; anritam - what is false; punah - again.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > ittham bhagavatas' citrair

> > vacobhih sa su-pes'alaih

> > bhinna-dhîr vismritah s'îrshni

> > sva-hastam kumatir nyadhât

> > ittham - in this manner; bhagavatah - of the Personality of Godhead; citraih - wonderful; vacobhih - by the words; sah - he (Vrika); su - very; pes'alaih - clever; bhinna - bewildered; dhîh - his mind; vismritah - forgetting; s'îrshni - on his head; sva - his own; hastam - hand; ku-matih - foolish; nyadhât - placed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [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

> > athâpatad bhinna-s'irâh

> > vrajâhata iva kshanât

> > jaya-s'abdo namah-s'abdah

> > sâdhu-s'abdo 'bhavad divi

> > atha - then; apatat - he fell down; bhinna - shattered; s'irâh - his head; vraja - by a lightning bolt; âhatah - struck; iva - as if; kshanât - in a fraction of a second; jaya - "victory!"; s'abdah - the sound; namah - "homage!"; s'abdah - the sound; sâdhu - "well done!"; s'abdah - 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!"

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > mumucuh pushpa-varshâni

> > hate pâpe vrikâsure

> > devarshi-pitri-gandharvâ

> > mocitah sankathâc chivah

> > mumucuh - they released; pushpa - of flowers; varshâni - rain; hate - having been killed; pâpe - the sinful; vrika-asure - demon Vrika; deva-rishi - the celestial sages; pitri - departed forefathers; gandharvâh - and singers of heaven; mocitah - freed; sankathât - from danger; s'ivah - Lord S'iva.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The celestial sages, Pitâs and Gandharvas rained down flowers to celebrate the killing of sinful Vrikâsura. Now Lord S'iva was out of danger.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 38 - 39

> > muktam giris'am abhyâha

> > bhagavân purushottamah

> > aho deva mahâ-deva

> > pâpo 'yam svena pâpmanâ

> > hatah ko nu mahatsv îs'a

> > jantur vai krita-kilbishah

> > kshemî syât kim u vis'ves'e

> > kritâgasko jagad-gurau

> > muktam - delivered; giris'am - Lord S'iva; abhyâha - addressed; bhagavân purusha- uttamah - the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Nârâyana); aho - ah; deva - My dear lord; mahâ-deva - S'iva; pâpah - sinful; ayam - this person; svena - by his own; pâpmanâ - sins;

> > hatah - killed; kah - what; nu - indeed; mahatsu - toward elevated saints; îs'a - O master; jantuh - living being; vai - indeed; krita - having done; kilbishah - offense; kshemî - fortunate; syât - can be; kim u - what to speak, moreover; vis'va - of the universe; îs'e - against the lord (you); krita- âgaskah - having committed offense; jagat - of the universe; gurau - the spiritual master.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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

> > ya evam avyâkrita-s'akty-udanvatah

> > parasya sâkshât paramâtmano hareh

> > giritra-moksham kathayec chrinoti vâ

> > vimucyate samsritibhis tathâribhih

> > yah - whoever; evam - thus; avyâkrita - inconceivable; s'akti - of energies; udanvatah - of the ocean; parasya - the Supreme; sâkshât - personally manifest; parama-âtmanah - of the Supersoul; hareh - Lord Hari; giritra - of Lord S'iva; moksham - the saving; kathayet - recites; s'rinoti - hears; vâ - or; vimucyate - is freed; samsritibhih - from repeated births and deaths; tathâ - as well as; aribhih - 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 S'iva will be freed from all enemies and the repetition of birth and death.

> > Back to the running text