Śuka spoke: O dear one, among the great lords who grant blessings and curses—Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and others—it is Śiva who is most swift to bestow boons or curses. Brahmā is not so quick, and Viṣṇu, Acyuta, never acts immediately in such matters. There is an ancient tale that illustrates this truth. Once, Śiva, the Lord of the Mountain, found himself in distress after granting a boon to the asura Vṛkāsura. Vṛkāsura, the son of Śakuni, was a demon of wicked intent. One day, he encountered Nārada on the road and, driven by his evil mind, asked him which among the three great gods was most easily pleased. Nārada, knowing the ways of the gods, advised him to approach Girisha—Śiva—for success, for Śiva is quickly pleased or angered by even the smallest virtue or fault. Nārada reminded him how Śiva had been pleased by the praises of Rāvaṇa and Bāṇa, granting them unmatched power, though both later fell into great distress. Taking Nārada’s words to heart, Vṛkāsura hurried to Śiva. In his fervor, he began to offer his own flesh as an oblation into the mouth of Hara, who is like fire, in hope of attracting the god’s attention. For six days he persisted, and on the seventh, despairing of Śiva’s appearance, he resolved to make the ultimate sacrifice. With his hair soaked at that holy place, he took a sharp blade and cut off his own head. Moved by compassion, the great Dhurjati—Śiva—appeared, restraining Vṛkāsura’s body as one might catch a spark from a flame. He restored the demon’s form, making it even more splendid than before. Śiva said, “Enough, Angala! Ask of me any boon you desire; I am pleased even by water offered by those who surrender, but you have tormented yourself excessively and in vain.” The sinful Vṛkāsura asked for a boon that would strike terror in all beings: “Let it be that whosoever’s head I touch with my hand shall die.” Though displeased, Rudra laughed and granted the boon, uttering “Om,” much as nectar is given to a serpent. Eager to test his newfound power, Vṛkāsura immediately rushed to place his hand on Śiva’s own head. Realizing the danger, Śiva, fearful of his own action, withdrew and fled. The demon pursued him relentlessly, and Śiva, trembling with fear, ran to the ends of heaven and earth, to the boundaries of the quarters, and even into the waters. The assembled gods, unable to find any remedy, sat in troubled silence. At last, Śiva reached Vaikuṇṭha, the radiant realm beyond darkness, where Nārāyaṇa himself abides—the supreme goal of renunciants, the peaceful who have laid down their staff, from which none who have gone return. Seeing Śiva in such distress, the Lord, destroyer of evil, approached from afar. By his yogic power, he assumed the form of a radiant young brahmachari, girded with a belt, deerskin, and staff, holding kusa grass in hand. He greeted Vṛkāsura with humility, saying, “O son of Śakuni, you look exhausted—have you traveled far? Rest a while, for this self is the fulfiller of all desires. If your purpose is not too secret, please tell me, for men generally seek to achieve their aims through others.” The demon, his fatigue eased by the Lord’s nectar-like words, recounted all that had transpired. The Blessed Lord replied, “If this is so, then we should not trust the words of one who, by Daksha’s curse, has become a demon and lord of ghosts and spirits. But if you truly have faith in him, O lord of the Dānavas, then quickly place your hand on your own head and let it be proven. If Śambhu’s words are in any way untrue, then abandon him as a speaker of falsehood, for one who speaks lies should not be followed.” Confused by the Lord’s clever and artful words, Vṛkāsura lost all sense of himself and, in his foolishness, placed his own hand upon his head. Instantly, his head split and he fell to the ground like a felled ox. At once, the heavens resounded with cries of “Victory!” “Homage!” and “Well done!” Showers of flowers rained down as the wicked Vṛkāsura was slain. The gods, sages, ancestors, and gandharvas all rejoiced, and Śiva was freed from his distress. The Supreme Person then addressed the liberated Śiva: “O great god, O divine one, this wicked one has been destroyed by his own evil. O Lord, who among the great can survive after committing sin? What to say, if one offends the Teacher of the World?” Whoever recounts or hears this deliverance of Lord Śiva by Hari, the Supreme Self, whose power is unfathomable, is freed from the cycles of birth and death, as are their enemies. Later, on the banks of the Sarasvatī, the sages were performing a sacrifice. Amid their gathering, a debate arose: “Of the three Lords—Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva—who is the greatest?” Desiring to know the truth, they sent Bhṛgu, the son of Brahmā, to ascertain the answer. Bhṛgu first went to the assembly of Brahmā. As a test, he offered neither obeisance nor praise. Brahmā’s anger was aroused, blazing with his own brilliance, but, being master of himself, he restrained it, just as the progenitor holds back fire with water from his own source. Next, Bhṛgu went to Mount Kailāsa, where Maheśvara, joyful, rose to embrace his brother. Bhṛgu, however, did not return the embrace, considering him disrespectful. The god’s eyes blazed with anger, and he raised his trident to strike Bhṛgu down. But the goddess fell at his feet and soothed him with gentle words. Finally, Bhṛgu journeyed to Vaikuṇṭha, where Janārdana, the Lord, resides. Finding the Lord reclining with Śrī on his chest, Bhṛgu struck him with his foot. At once, the Lord, refuge of the virtuous, rose together with Lakṣmī. Descending from his bed, he bowed his head to the sage and said, “Welcome, O Brāhmaṇa, please be seated for a moment. O Lord, forgive us who did not know of your arrival. Purify me, and the world and its guardians devoted to me, with the water that has washed your feet, O maker of holy places among the holy. Today, O Lord, I have become the exclusive recipient of Lakṣmī’s favor; prosperity, freed from sin by the touch of Your feet, will dwell upon my chest.” Thus, the greatness of the Lords was revealed by their response to Bhṛgu’s test, and the glory of the Supreme Person shone resplendent before all.