Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.88.18-19
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesLord Śiva Mercifully Stops Vṛka
“Vṛkāsura 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 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.”
What the purport teaches
- Vṛkāsura became frustrated because he had not obtained a vision of Lord Śiva. On the seventh day, he prepared to kill himself.
- The supremely merciful Lord Śiva rose from the sacrificial fire and seized the demon's arms to stop him.
- Lord Śiva protected Vṛkāsura from further harm. By his touch, the demon once again became whole.
Try this today
Take a quiet moment to reflect on Lord Śiva's act of stopping harm and restoring Vṛkāsura.
Ask yourself
What stands out to me about Lord Śiva's mercy toward the demon?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.