Chapter 10 Shloka 23

रुद्राणां शंकरश्चास्मि वित्तेशो यक्षरक्षसाम्।

वसूनां पावकश्चास्मि मेरु: शिखरिणामहम्।।२३।।

Of the Rudras, I am Shankar;

amongst the Yakshas and the demons

I am the Lord of wealth;

I am Paavak amongst the Vasus

and I am Meru amongst the tall mountains.

Chapter 10 Shloka 23

रुद्राणां शंकरश्चास्मि वित्तेशो यक्षरक्षसाम्।

वसूनां पावकश्चास्मि मेरु: शिखरिणामहम्।।२३।।

Describing His other principal, divine manifestations, the Lord says:

Of the Rudras, I am Shankar; amongst the Yakshas and the demons I am the Lord of wealth; I am Paavak amongst the Vasus and I am Meru amongst the tall mountains.

The Lord says, “I am Shankar amongst the Rudras.”

1. Rudras cause other creatures to weep.

2. They cause pain to others.

3. They trouble people in many ways.

4. They cause many types of sorrow.

Rudras are full of destructive energy. They cause devastation through storms, floods, earthquakes, fire etc.

The Lord says, “I am Shankar amongst the Rudras.” Shankar is an epithet of Lord Shiva. Shiva Himself is symbolic of annihilation and death. On the other hand, He also consumes the poison of the world. He teaches even his devotees to drink this venom. Entwined around His neck dwell venomous serpents. Thus He teaches us to live amongst venomous people with an attitude of detachment. It is Lord Shiva who endows prosperity upon His devotees.

The Lord says, “Amongst Yakshas and demons, I am the Lord of wealth.”

Yaksha

1. Yaksha is another epithet for a servant.

2. The Yaksha serves other people in order to eke out a living.

3. He is subservient to the master who pays him.

4. A Yaksha is a servant who has sold his intellect, his knowledge, his personality, his body – his all to the master who pays him.

Many times, the Lord too dons the form of a Yaksha. The Yaksha fulfils the desires of others and helps them acquire their desired fruit.

Asura – the demon

Asuras are those who:

1. are greedy for wealth;

2. are capable of killing another to gain wealth;

3. destroy other people’s reputation for some economic gain;

4. are willing to obliterate another’s entity for financial gain;

5. believe only wealth to be the most superior objective worthy of attainment;

6. live only to obtain wealth.

The Lord says, “Amongst all these, I am Vitesh, the Lord of wealth.” Vitesh is another name for Kubera – the Supreme Lord of wealth. Thus Kubera is the Lord of all Yakshas and demons.

“I am Paavak amongst the Vasus.”

1. It is the work of the Vasus to purify impurities.

2. Vasus perform the task of guarding the health of the universe.

3. Vasus cleanse the human body of all its impurities.

The Lord says, “Of all the purifiers of the earth, I am fire, Agni.” There is none which can purify like fire. Fire also protects the praanas or the life breath of man.

“I am Meru amongst the mountains.”

The Meru mountain is considered to be the tallest amongst all mountains. According to the Puranas it is so high that all the planets revolve around its peak! It is said that this mountain holds phenomenal troves of gold and precious stones.

So the Lord has acknowledged that:

1. He is the Rudra, the giver of sorrow.

2. He is Kubera, the Lord of wealth who endows wealth in varied measure to all beings.

3. He is fire that purifies all in the universe.

4. He is the highest pinnacle of Meru, from where He can view the entire universe.