Shloka 13
Aṣṭāvakra’s Visit to Kubera: Hospitality, Temptation, and the Ethics of Restraint (अष्टावक्र-वैश्रवणोपाख्यानम्)
नामभिश्षास्तुव॑ं देवं ततस्तुष्टो5भवद् भव: । परशुं च ततो देवो दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि चैव मे
nāma-bhiḥ śāstā tvaṃ devaṃ tataḥ tuṣṭo 'bhavad bhavaḥ | paraśuṃ ca tato devo divyāny astrāṇi caiva me ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Dengan memuji dewa itu dengan nama-nama ini juga, Bhava (Śiva) menjadi berkenan. Lalu Dewa itu mengurniakan kepadaku kapaknya (paraśu) serta senjata-senjata ilahi. (Baginda memberi jaminan:) ‘Tiada dosa akan melekat padamu; engkau akan menjadi tidak terkalahkan dalam peperangan; maut tidak akan berkuasa atasmu, dan engkau akan bebas daripada uzur dan kematian.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sincere praise and surrender to Śiva (Bhava) can lead to divine grace that removes the burden of sin and grants protection; the passage frames ethical anxiety (fear of sin) being met by devotion and the deity’s assurance.
After being praised with specific divine names, Śiva becomes satisfied and rewards the devotee by giving his paraśu and divine weapons, along with boons of sinlessness, victory in war, and freedom from death’s control.