Devanagari
तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान् रुद्रो दुर्मना इव भारत ।
ॐ इति प्रहसंस्तस्मै ददेऽहेरमृतं यथा ॥ २२ ॥
Verse text
tac chrutvā bhagavān rudro
durmanā iva bhārata
om iti prahasaṁs tasmai
dade ’her amṛtaṁ yathā
Synonyms
tat
—
this
;
śrutvā
—
hearing
;
bhagavān rudraḥ
—
Lord Rudra
;
durmanāḥ
—
displeased
;
iva
—
as if
;
bhārata
—
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
;
aheḥ
—
to a snake
;
amṛtam
—
nectar
;
yathā
—
as .
Translation
Upon hearing this, Lord Rudra seemed somewhat disturbed. Nonetheless, O descendant of Bharata, he vibrated om to signify his assent, granting Vṛka the benediction with an ironic smile, as if giving milk to a poisonous snake.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Upon hearing this, Lord Rudra seemed somewhat disturbed. Nonetheless, O descendant of Bharata, he vibrated oṁ to signify his assent, granting Vṛka the benediction with an ironic smile, as if giving milk to a poisonous snake.
KB 10.88.22
Lord Śiva could understand the motive of the demon, and he was very sorry that he had assured him whatever benediction he liked. He could not withdraw his promise, but he was very sorry in his heart that he was to offer him a benediction so dangerous to human society. Devotees of the Personality of Godhead never ask any benediction from Lord Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa, and even if they ask something from the Lord, it is not at all dangerous for human society. That is the difference between the demons and the devotees, or the worshipers of Lord Śiva and the worshipers of Lord Viṣṇu.
While Śukadeva Gosvāmī was narrating the history of Vṛkāsura, he addressed Mahārāja Parīkṣit as Bhārata, referring to King Parīkṣit’s birth in a family of devotees. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was saved by Lord Kṛṣṇa while in his mother’s womb. Later, he could have asked Lord Kṛṣṇa to save him again, from the curse of a brāhmaṇa, but he did not do so. The demon, however, wanted to become immortal by killing everyone with the touch of his hand. Lord Śiva could understand this, but because he had promised, he gave him the benediction.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Hearing this Śiva seemed to become aggrieved, but he also knew that the Lord would find some remedy. Thus he smiled in this aggrieved condition, understanding that the Lord was omniscient. He now understood his own foolishness. The benediction was like nectar only in that it was a benediction and not because of its effects. O Bhārata! Just as you who have come in the lineage from Bharata were saved by the Lord, the Lord will save the world from fear. You should not worry.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
None
Hearing this, Śiva seemed to become aggrieved, but he also knew that the Lord would find some remedy. Thus he smiled in this aggrieved condition, understanding that the Lord was omniscient. He now understood his own foolishness. The benediction was like nectar only in that it was a benediction and not because of its effects. O Bhārata! Just as you who have come in the lineage from Bharata were saved by the Lord, the Lord will save the world from fear in this situation. You should not worry.