Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.88.34
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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asatyam vacaḥ
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false words
Contiguous (asatyam + vacaḥ). Hari invokes the asura's commitment to keeping speech true — using Vṛka's residual sense of dharma as the lever. Gauḍīyas: even asuric minds carry fragments of dharma that Bhagavān can weaponise toward their salvation.
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dānava-ṛṣabha
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O best of demons
Contiguous (dānava + ṛṣabha). Second honorific in two ślokas. The Bhāgavatam repeats the flattery so the reader will see how Hari is choreographing the asura's pride into the asura's death.
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jahi
—
kill (him)
Imperative of √han. Hari uses the imperative of killing — toward Śiva, His own dear devotee — to convince Vṛka to act. Gauḍīya reading: the surface command is shocking; the underlying intent is the rescue of both Śiva and (ultimately) Vṛka from his own course.
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asat-vācam
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speaker of untruth
Contiguous (asat + vācam). Hari frames Śiva, hypothetically, as an asat-speaker — and asks Vṛka to enforce satya. The chapter shows Bhagavān using the asura's own thin loyalty to satya.
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anṛtam punaḥ
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untruth again
Contiguous (anṛtam + punaḥ). Anṛta = the lie. The verse closes with the asura cast as guardian of truth — the most ironic role he has ever held, and the role under which his hand finally rises.
Lord Śiva may have the power to revive himself even after being killed, but at least he will be dissuaded from lying again.
You should kill him so that he will no longer speak lies, even if he were to revive himself by mystic power.
Śambhu means “he who is happy.” Until this time he has been happy. Do this in order to understand if in the future he will not be happy. If his words prove untrue even a little, by failure of his promise, kill him. Or kill him somehow or other (kathaṁcit). Instead of tadāinam sometimes tad ante is seen. This means “after this.” Anta means “now.” After killing him he will not longer speak lies since he will not be able to speak. O best of the demons, you can do this!
None Śambhoḥ means “of he who is happy.” Until this time he has been happy. Do this in order to understand if in the future he will not be happy. If his words prove untrue even a little, by failure of his promise, kill him. Or kill him somehow or other (kathaṁcit). Instead of tadāinam sometimes tad ante is seen. This means “after this.” Ante means “now.” After killing him he will not longer speak lies since he will not be able to speak. O best of the demons, you can do this!
- What weapon of mine — anger, suspicion, ambition — most threatens my own life?
- Where could disarming myself be the wisest act today?
A clever advocate appeals to the asura's sense of justice: 'And if the boon fails, you must execute the liar.' The frame is moral — Vṛka becomes the agent of cosmic truth-keeping, righteous now in his own eyes. The mind that wanted to play executioner is gifted a reason; the hand rises on its own.
My note
Source: vedabase.io