The Guru Asks First for Shiva-Bhakti and Then for Mercy upon His Disciple
Uttara Kanda, Doha 109
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
All-knowing Shiva hears the prayer and sees the brahmin's love. The voice returns through the temple sky: best of brahmins, ask for a boon.
The Guru asks first for devotion to Shiva's feet. Only after securing the treasure of bhakti does he place a second request before the Lord. Living beings wander helplessly under maya, he says. Do not remain angry with this one.
Ocean of compassion, let the curse become grace within a short time. The intercession holds accountability and mercy together. The Guru does not deny Bhushundi's offense or ask Shiva to call injustice harmless. He asks that consequence be shaped toward awakening rather than ruin. Because the teacher seeks his own devotion before power over another's fate, the plea arises from surrender, not possessiveness.
The Guru asks for love at Shiva's feet, then uses the boon of nearness to plead for the disciple who would not bow.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनि बिनती सर्बग्य सिव देखि ब्रिप्र अनुरागु। पुनि मंदिर नभबानी भइ द्विजबर बर मागु।।108(क)।। जौं प्रसन्न प्रभु मो पर नाथ दीन पर नेहु। निज पद भगति देइ प्रभु पुनि दूसर बर देहु।।108(ख)।। तव माया बस जीव जड़ संतत फिरइ भुलान। तेहि पर क्रोध न करिअ प्रभु कृपा सिंधु भगवान।।108(ग)।। संकर दीनदयाल अब एहि पर होहु कृपाल। साप अनुग्रह होइ जेहिं नाथ थोरेहीं काल।।108(घ)।।
Hearing the brahmin's humble prayer, the all-knowing Shiva saw his deep devotion and spoke again from the sky: 'O best of brahmins, ask a boon.' 'If you are pleased with me, O Lord, if you show love for the lowly, grant me devotion to your feet, and then grant another boon. Living beings wander lost, deluded by your maya; do not be angry with them, O Lord, O ocean of compassion. O Shankara, friend of the afflicted, be gracious to this one, that your curse may become a blessing in but little time.'