Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9
हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon
निवारयित्वाथ पितामहस्तं ह्युवाच तं चाद्यवरं वृणीष्व । यस्याप्तिकामस्तव सर्वलोके सुदुर्लभं दानव तं गृहाण
nivārayitvātha pitāmahastaṃ hyuvāca taṃ cādyavaraṃ vṛṇīṣva | yasyāptikāmastava sarvaloke sudurlabhaṃ dānava taṃ gṛhāṇa
ಪಿತಾಮಹನು (ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ) ಅವನನ್ನು ತಡೆದು ಹೀಗೆ ಹೇಳಿದನು: "ಈಗ ಒಂದು ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠವಾದ ವರವನ್ನು ಕೇಳು—ಸಮಸ್ತ ಲೋಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನೀನು ಏನನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಲು ಬಯಸುತ್ತೀಯೋ, ಓ ದಾನವನೇ, ಅದನ್ನು ಪಡೆದುಕೋ, ಅದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ದುರ್ಲಭವಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ ಸರಿ."
Brahma (Pitāmaha)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
The verse highlights how worldly desire (āpti-kāma) drives beings to seek rare boons, reminding the listener that such attainments remain within saṃsāra, unlike liberation attained through devotion to Pati (Śiva) and right knowledge.
In the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative, boons and powers are shown as secondary to divine sovereignty; Saguna Śiva as Pati ultimately governs outcomes beyond Brahmā’s gifts, directing devotees toward Śiva-bhakti rather than mere boon-seeking.
The practical takeaway is to redirect “attainment-desire” toward Śiva: steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with bhakti, rather than pursuing difficult worldly boons.