"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.