Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.62.3
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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śaraṇyaḥ
—
the giver of shelter
From √śri (to take refuge). The same root as śaraṇāgati, the central Vaiṣṇava act. Gauḍīyas reserve this word in its fullness for Bhagavān (sarva-dharmān parityajya, BG 18.66); here it is borrowed for Śiva as a vaiṣṇava-deva acting on Bhagavān's behalf.
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bhakta-vatsalaḥ
—
compassionate to his devotees
Compound: bhakta + vatsalaḥ (cow-affectionate, hence tenderly loving). The epithet par excellence of Kṛṣṇa-Gopāla. Used here of Śiva to show that wherever this quality appears, it points back to Viṣṇu, whose servant Śambhu is.
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vareṇa
—
with a choice of benediction
Instrumental of vara. The classical mechanism by which asuras gain power — ask a deva for a boon. Gauḍīyas read this carefully: aiśvarya granted in response to tapasya is never the prema of Vraja, which Kṛṣṇa cannot give as a boon, only as a gift.
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pura-adhipam
—
as the guardian of his city
Compound: pura (city) + adhipam (lord). Bāṇa makes Śiva his city's doorkeeper — a colossal inversion. The verse quietly notes the danger of using the Lord rather than serving Him.
Banasura chose Siva to be the protector of his city.
“Why did Śiva accept such a sinful person?” It is said Śiva by his nature is endowed with compassion as well as wealth, power. The faults of the sinful person sometimes are destroyed by a relationship with him. When Śiva was absorbed in the Lord while dancing, his mercy arose because of Bāṇa’s music. That is explained in this verse. He asked Bāṇa to choose a gift (vareṇa chandayām āsa). He chose to have Śiva as the protector of his city.
ŚIva was full of all powers (bhagavān). He is described as the guṇāvatara: he was the master of all jīvas (sarva-bhūteśaḥ). He was worthy of taking shelter because he was affectionate to devotees. Thus he fulfilled Bāṇa’s wish (chandayām āsa). Or Śiva was full of mercy (bhagavān). Thus he was the protector of all jīvas whose nature is to suffer according to individual qualities. He was the protector of the surrendered and affectionate to the devotees. These were successively greater causes of fulfilling Bāṇa’s desire.
- When given a choice, do I ask for objects or for nearness to a holy guide?
- Whose presence is my real protection right now, and am I honoring it?
Like a wealthy host who, pleased by a guest's song, hands over the keys to his house, Lord Śiva accepted Bāṇa's drumming and stationed himself as gatekeeper of Śoṇitapura. The Lord's compassion meets the devotee at the level of the devotee's wish — even when the wish is small.
My note
Source: vedabase.io