Shloka 5
Śālva Attacks Dvārakā; Pradyumna Leads the Defense
Saubha-vimāna and Māyā-yuddha
संवत्सरान्ते भगवानाशुतोष उमापति: । वरेणच्छन्दयामास शाल्वं शरणमागतम् ॥ ५ ॥
saṁvatsarānte bhagavān āśu-toṣa umā-patiḥ vareṇa cchandayām āsa śālvaṁ śaraṇam āgatam
संवत्सरान्ते ‘आशुतोष’ इति ख्यातो भगवान् उमापतिः शरणमागतं शाल्वं वरेणैव सन्तोषयामास॥
Śālva worshiped Lord Śiva, who is famous as Āśutoṣa, “one who is quickly satisfied.” And yet Lord Śiva did not come to Śālva for an entire year because, being bhagavān, a great, all-knowing personality, he understood that any benediction given to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s enemy would be fruitless. Still, as stated by the words śaraṇam āgatam, Śālva had come to Lord Śiva for shelter, and thus to maintain the standard principle that a worshiper receives a benediction, Lord Śiva offered one to Śālva.
FAQs
This verse calls Śiva 'Āśutoṣa' and shows that he quickly grants boons to those who take shelter of him, such as Śālva.
Śālva approached Śiva for refuge and worshiped for a year; pleased, Śiva granted him a boon—setting the stage for Śālva’s later conflict with Lord Kṛṣṇa.
The verse highlights the power of seeking shelter with sincerity; for devotees, it points to taking refuge in the Supreme Lord with steady practice, rather than pursuing boons that fuel ego or aggression.