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
シヴァ神は彼に言いました。「我が友よ、止めてくれ、止めてくれ！何でも好きなものを願いなさい。ああ、私に助けを求める者からの水だけの供物で私は満足するのに、あなたは理由もなく自分の体をひどく苦しめてしまった。」
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.