Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 10.88 Summary

This chapter describes how it is that the devotees of Visnu obtain liberation, while the devotees of other deities obtain material opulences.

Lord Visnu possesses all opulences, while Lord Siva lives in poverty. Yet the devotees of Visnu are generally poverty-stricken, while Siva's attain abundant wealth. When Maharaja Pariksit asked Sukadeva Gosvami to explain this puzzling fact, the sage replied as follows: "Lord Siva manifests as false ego in three varieties, according to the three modes of nature. From this false ego arise the five physical elements and the other transformations of material nature, totaling sixteen. When a devotee of Lord Siva worships his manifestation in any of these elements, the devotee obtains all sorts of corresponding enjoyable opulences. But because Lord Sri Hari is transcendental to the modes of material nature, His devotees also become transcendental."

At the end of the performance of his Asvamedha sacrifices, King Yudhisthira had asked this same question of Lord Krsna, who replied, "When I feel special compassion for someone, I gradually deprive him of his wealth. Then the poverty-stricken man's children, wife and other relations all abandon him. When he again tries to acquire wealth in order to win back his family's favor, I mercifully frustrate him so that he becomes disgusted with fruitive work and befriends My devotees. And at that time I bestow upon him My extraordinary grace; then he can become freed from the bondage of material life and attain to the kingdom of God, Vaikuntha."

Lord Brahma, Lord Visnu and Lord Siva can each bestow or withhold favors, but whereas Lord Brahma and Lord Siva are satisfied or angered very quickly, Lord Visnu is not. In this regard the Vedic literature relates the following account: Once the demon Vrka asked Narada which god was most quickly pleased, and Narada answered that Lord Siva was. Thus Vrkasura went to the holy place of Kedaranatha and began worshiping Lord Siva by offering pieces of his own flesh as oblations into the fire. But Siva did not appear. So Vrka decided to commit suicide by cutting off his head. Just at the critical moment, Lord Siva appeared from the sacrificial fire and stopped him, offering the demon whatever boon he chose. Vrka said, "May death come to whomever I touch upon the head with my hand." Lord Siva was obliged to fulfill this request, and at once the wicked Vrka tried to test the benediction by putting his hand on the lord's head. Terrified, Siva fled for his life, running as far as heaven and the outer limits of the mortal world. Finally the lord reached the planet of Svetadvipa, where Lord Visnu resides. Seeing the desperate Siva from afar, the Lord disguised Himself as a young student and went before Vrkasura. In a sweet voice he addressed the demon: "My dear Vrka, please rest awhile and tell Us what you intend to do." Vrka was charmed by the Lord's words and revealed everything that had happened. The Lord said, "Ever since Lord Siva was cursed by Prajapati Daksa, he has become just like a carnivorous hobgoblin. So you shouldn't trust his word. Better to test his benediction by putting your hand on your own head." Bewildered by these words, the foolish demon touched his own head, which immediately shattered and fell to the ground. Cries of "Victory!" "Obeisances!" and "Well done!" were heard from the sky, and the demigods, sages, celestial forefathers and Gandharvas all congratulated the Supreme Lord by raining down flowers upon Him.

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Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari