Shloka 20
Hari’s Special Mercy, Śiva’s Quick Boons, and the Deliverance from Vṛkāsura
तमाह चाङ्गालमलं वृणीष्व मे यथाभिकामं वितरामि ते वरम् । प्रीयेय तोयेन नृणां प्रपद्यता- महो त्वयात्मा भृशमर्द्यते वृथा ॥ २० ॥
tam āha cāṅgālam alaṁ vṛṇīṣva me yathābhikāmaṁ vitarāmi te varam prīyeya toyena nṛṇāṁ prapadyatām aho tvayātmā bhṛśam ardyate vṛthā
Lord Shiva 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.
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord is pleased with those who take shelter (prapadyatā), implying that sincere surrender is more effective than self-tormenting efforts done without proper aim.
Śiva indicates that the person is afflicting the self “in vain” and invites them to directly ask for the desired boon, emphasizing that divine grace responds to surrender more than needless self-punishment.
Choose purposeful spiritual practice over harmful extremes—pray sincerely, seek guidance, and avoid self-imposed suffering that doesn’t cultivate devotion, clarity, or compassion.