Texts 38-39
muktaṁ giriśam abhyāha
bhagavān puruṣottamaḥ
aho deva mahā-deva
pāpo ’yaṁ svena pāpmanā
hataḥ ko nu mahatsv īśa
jantur vai kṛta-kilbiṣaḥ
kṣemī syāt kim u viśveśe
kṛtāgasko jagad-gurau
muktam — delivered; giriśam — Lord Śiva; abhyāha — addressed; bhagavān puruṣa-uttamaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Nārāyaṇa); aho — ah; deva — My dear lord; mahā-deva — Śiva; pāpaḥ — sinful; ayam — this person; svena — by his own; pāpmanā — sins; hataḥ — killed; kaḥ — what; nu — indeed; mahatsu — toward elevated saints; īśa — O master; jantuḥ — living being; vai — indeed; kṛta — having done; kilbiṣaḥ — offense; kṣemī — fortunate; syāt — can be; kim u — what to speak, moreover; viśva — of the universe; īśe — against the lord (you); kṛta-āgaskaḥ — having committed offense; jagat — of the universe; gurau — the spiritual master.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead then addressed Lord Giriśa, who was now out of danger: “Just see, O Mahādeva, My lord, how this wicked man has been killed by his own sinful reactions. Indeed, what living being can hope for good fortune if he offends exalted saints, what to speak of offending the lord and spiritual master of the universe?”
According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, this statement of Lord Viṣṇu’s implies a mild scolding: “My dear possessor of unlimited vision, O you of clear intelligence, benedictions should not be given to wicked demons in this way. You could have been killed! But you were only concerned about saving this poor soul, so you disregarded what would happen to you as a result.” Thus, Ācārya Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out, Lord Nārāyaṇa’s mild rebuke also highlighted Lord Śiva’s exceptional compassion.