Devanagari
इति मूढ: प्रतिज्ञाय देवं पशुपतिं प्रभुम् ।
आराधयामास नृप: पांशुमुष्टिं सकृद्ग्रसन् ॥ ४ ॥
Verse text
iti mūḍhaḥ pratijṣāya
devaṁ paśu-patiṁ prabhum
ārādhayām āsa nṛpaḥ
pāṁśu-muṣṭiṁ sakṛd grasan
Synonyms
iti
—
with these words
;
mūḍhaḥ
—
the fool
;
pratijṣāya
—
having vowed
;
devam
—
the lord
;
paśu
—
patim — Śiva, the protector of animallike men
;
prabhum
—
his master
;
āradhayām āsa
—
worshiped
;
nṛpaḥ
—
the King
;
pāṁśu
—
of dust
;
muṣṭim
—
a handful
;
sakṛt
—
once (daily)
;
grasan
—
eating .
Translation
Having thus made his vow, the foolish King proceeded to worship Lord Paśupati [Śiva] as his deity by eating a handful of dust each day, and nothing more.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Having thus made his vow, the foolish King proceeded to worship Lord Paśupati [Śiva] as his deity by eating a handful of dust each day, and nothing more.
KB 10.76.4
… and he was, in fact, a fool, because he had promised to kill Kṛṣṇa.
Usually such foolish demons take shelter of a demigod like Lord Śiva to execute their ulterior plans, and so in order to get strength, Śālva took refuge at the lotus feet of Lord Śiva. He underwent a severe type of austerity during which he would eat no more than a handful of ashes daily.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
He made this promise because he was foolish, with no intelligence, since it was impossible to kill them. He then worshipped Śiva because he was his family deity (devam), the master of people who were like animals (such as Sālva), and who could fulfill his desires (prabhum). He should enjoy happiness (nṛpaḥ). His vow was quite suitable: eating dust. It was ridiculous.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
He then worshipped Śiva because Śiva was his family deity or deity of the demons (devam), the protector of animals or people who were like animals (such as Sālva), indicating his very merciful nature, and who could quickly fulfill his desires (prabhum). The king (nṛpaḥ), though qualified for enjoying happiness, ate dust.