Shloka 127

Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ

Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony

Devanagari script

अप्रसाद्य विरूपाक्षं वरदं स्थाणुमव्ययम्‌ । कुत: क्षीरोदनं वत्स सुखानि वसनानि च

Transliteration

aprasādya virūpākṣaṃ varadaṃ sthāṇum avyayam | kutaḥ kṣīrodanaṃ vatsa sukhāni vasanāni ca ||

Translation

Vāsudeva sprach: „Mein Kind, ohne zuvor die Gunst Virūpākṣas zu gewinnen — des segenspendenden, ewig festen und unvergänglichen Herrn —, woher sollten Milchreis, behagliche Freuden und feine Gewänder kommen?“

Word by Word

• अप्रसाद्य: without pleasing (having not propitiated)
• अप्रसाद्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रसादय् (धातु) / अप्रसाद्य (कृदन्त-रूप)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-भाव

• विरूपाक्षम्: Virūpākṣa (the three-eyed/odd-eyed Lord, Śiva)
• विरूपाक्षम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरूपाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वरदम्: boon-giving
• वरदम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• स्थाणुम्: the Steadfast One (Śiva)
• स्थाणुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थाणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कुतः: whence? how (could it be)?
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुतस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: true

• क्षीरोदनम्: milk-rice
• क्षीरोदनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर + ओदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वत्स: O child/dear one
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सुखानि: comforts/pleasures
• सुखानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• वसनानि: garments/clothes
• वसनानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: true

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
• Virūpākṣa (Śiva)
• kṣīrodana (milk-rice)
• vasanāni (garments)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Material comforts and social well-being are portrayed as dependent on dharmic conduct and divine favor; one should first honor and propitiate the boon-giving, imperishable Lord (here, Śiva as Virūpākṣa) rather than seeking pleasures directly.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāsudeva addresses a younger listener (“vatsa”), stressing that without pleasing Virūpākṣa (Śiva), one cannot expect even basic luxuries like milk-rice, enjoyable comforts, and good clothing—framing prosperity as the fruit of reverence and right worship.