The Demon Who Turned His Boon on Śiva

Which god is quickest to please?

There was an asura named Vṛka, and he wanted power. Meeting the wandering sage Nārada, he asked: of the three great gods — Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva — which one is quickest to please?

Nārada answered honestly. Śiva, he said. He is Āśutoṣa — the one who is pleased at once. A little devotion delights him, and he will give almost anything. But be warned: he is just as quick to anger.

A terrible tapas

So Vṛka went to Kedāra in the Himālaya and began to worship Śiva with a fierce and bloody tapas. He lit a sacred fire and began cutting pieces of his own flesh and offering them into it.

Seven days passed and Śiva had not appeared. In despair, Vṛka raised his axe to cut off his own head and offer that too. At that moment Śiva rose out of the fire and caught his hand. Enough, Śiva said. Ask for anything you wish.

The boon

Vṛka asked: let anyone whose head I touch with my hand die at once. Śiva hesitated for a moment — and then, true to his nature, smiled and granted it. The asura's wounds healed instantly.

Then Vṛka had a thought. Why not test the boon — and at the same time get rid of the only one powerful enough to take it back? And if Śiva was gone, perhaps he could have Pārvatī too. He raised his hand and advanced on Śiva himself.

The chase

Śiva, bound by his own word, could not take back the gift. And so the Lord of the universe turned and ran. Vṛka chased him across the earth, across the heavens, to the ends of the directions. The gods watched in helpless fear; none of them could stop a boon given by Śiva.

At last Śiva reached Vaikuṇṭha, the realm of Viṣṇu.

Viṣṇu's trick

Viṣṇu saw what was happening. He took the form of a young brahmacārī student, shining, with a staff and a belt of muñja grass, and stepped into Vṛka's path. He greeted the asura politely and asked why he was running so hard.

Vṛka told him everything. The student laughed. You believe Śiva's word? he said. Don't you know Dakṣa cursed him? He is nothing now but a wandering ghost of the cremation grounds. His boons are worthless. If you don't believe me, test it — put your hand on your own head and see.

Confused and proud, Vṛka did exactly that. He placed his hand on his own head — and his head split apart. He fell dead on the spot.

The easy god

The gods showered flowers. Viṣṇu praised Śiva, and Śiva returned home, safe. The story is told with a smile, because it shows something true and endearing about Śiva: he gives so easily, so generously, without calculating the danger — and sometimes it takes Viṣṇu's cleverness to protect the Lord who can refuse nothing to a devotee.