Shloka 20
Rudra’s Omitted Share in the Yajña (रुद्रभागानुपपत्तिः — यज्ञोपाख्यानम्)
ततो विधनुषं देवा देवश्रेष्ठमुपागमन् । शरणं सह यज्ञेन प्रसादं चाकरोत् प्रभु:,तब देवता यज्ञको साथ लेकर धनुषरहित देवश्रेष्ठ महादेवजीकी शरणमें गये। उस समय भगवान् शिवने उन सबपर कृपा की
tato vidhanuṣaṃ devā devaśreṣṭham upāgaman | śaraṇaṃ saha yajñena prasādaṃ cākarot prabhuḥ ||
Then the gods approached the foremost of gods, now without his bow, and—bringing the sacrifice with them—took refuge in him. The Lord (Śiva), moved by their surrender, granted them his gracious favor.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): even powerful beings secure protection not by force but by humility, proper intention, and approaching the divine with reverence; grace (prasāda) arises in response to sincere surrender.
After events that leave the foremost deity without his bow, the gods approach him, bringing the sacrificial rite with them, and seek his shelter; Śiva, as the sovereign Lord, responds by bestowing his favor upon them.