Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.63.45
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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anuvartī
—
faithful follower
From anu-√vṛt (to follow after). Bāṇa is Śiva's anuvartin — and Śiva, even at the moment of his stuti to Kṛṣṇa, defends his anuvartin. Gauḍīyas note: this is the topmost demigod's bhakta-vātsalya, parallel to Kṛṣṇa's own.
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abhayam dattam
—
fearlessness has been given
Compound + past participle: abhaya (fearlessness) + datta (given). Abhaya-dāna is the supreme gift in Vaiṣṇava ethics. Śiva states that he himself has already given Bāṇa abhaya — and now asks Kṛṣṇa to honor that gift.
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daitya-patau
—
to the lord of the daityas (Prahlāda)
Compound: daitya (descendant of Diti) + pati (lord). Prahlāda — the asura-cum-bhakta. Gauḍīyas treat this verse as a direct cross-reference to SB Canto 7: Prahlāda's prasāda is being invoked four chapters and centuries downstream.
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prasādaḥ
—
mercy
From pra-√sad (to settle, become clear). Bhagavān's grace settling on the bhakta. Gauḍīyas read prasāda as both the act of grace and its tangible vessel (prasādānna). Śiva is asking for the same prasāda-act here as Nṛsiṁha extended to Prahlāda.
Lord Śiva feels inclined to help Bāṇāsura because the demon showed great devotion to Lord Śiva when he provided musical accompaniment for Śiva’s tāṇḍava dance. Another reason Bāṇa is an object of Lord Śiva’s favor is that he is a descendant of the great devotees Prahlāda and Bali.
"O Siva, I am pleased with you. Please choose a boon." "O Lord, I cannot give up my attachment for my sinful follower Banasura. What can I do? Please be merciful to him. That is the benediction I choose." Then he speaks this verse. "Make Banasura fearless." "Why?" "There are no good qualities in him. It is all your mercy." "What type of mercy should i give?" "The same mercy that you gave to Prahlada, the chief of the demons."
Since I have acted favorably to Bāṇa and have had affection for him for a long time, you should also act similarly. When I danced with great devotion for you, he assisted me by playing instruments. Thus I developed affection for him (iṣṭaḥ). He is an object of mercy (dayitaḥ) naturally since he is related to Prahlāda and Bali. He has become my follower. Thinking of your mercy, I have awarded him fearlessness. You should give him mercy. Thinking of his offense of fighting with the Lord, Śiva becomes ashamed and he gives the example of Prahlāda. Just as you were merciful to Prahlāda you should be merciful to him.
Bāṇa is a friend (īṣṭaḥ), a dear one (priyaḥ) and a follower. A friend has affection with conditions, and a dear one has affection with no conditions. Or he is dear (īṣṭaḥ) because he is a friend (dayitaḥ) and servant. Or he is a dear friend (īṣṭaḥ dayitaḥ) and a dear servant (īṣtaḥ anuvartī). Therefore I gave him fearlessness. O my Lord (deva)! Whatever is mine is yours. Since he is the devotee of your devotee you should be more merciful to him than to me. Therefore great mercy should be given to him in the form of no fear (tat). Or what mercy should be given? Therefore (tat) mercy similar to that given to Prahlada should be given. Make him the best devotee. Or be merciful because (hi) mercy was similarly given to the lord of the demons, more than to me. Or do not think of me in giving him mercy. Think of Prahlāda. Give mercy just as you gave to Prahlāda.
- Whom in my life am I willing to plead for, putting my own credit at risk?
- How does Kṛṣṇa's mercy to Prahlāda function as a template for hope in my own intercessions?
A father comes to court not to dispute the verdict but to ask clemency for his own child — 'spare him, give him the kind of grace You once gave Prahlāda'. Śiva, having sung Kṛṣṇa's supremacy, uses the credit he has just earned to ask for Bāṇa's life.
Lord Nṛsiṁha, after slaying Hiraṇyakaśipu, blessed Prahlāda with every protection — extending mercy to his descendants (Bāṇa is great-grandson of Prahlāda via Virocana and Bali). The lineage of Vaiṣṇavas among the asuras runs through Prahlāda (SB 7.5-9).
Śiva calls in that promise here. Gauḍīyas read this verse as proof that bhakti's mercy is generational — Prahlāda's surrender ripens, four generations later, into Bāṇa's sparing. The grace of Bhagavān is patient.
My note
Source: vedabase.io