Shloka 39
Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration
Anuśāsana-parva 17
महातपा घोरतपा अदीनो दीनसाधक: । संवत्सरकरो मन्त्र: प्रमाणं परमं तप:
mahātapā ghoratapā adīno dīnasādhakaḥ | saṃvatsarakaro mantraḥ pramāṇaṃ paramaṃ tapaḥ ||
Vāyu-deva sprach: „Er ist ein großer Asket, von ehrfurchtgebietender Strenge — edel und niemals kleinlich —, der die Hoffnungen der Bedrängten erfüllt, die Zuflucht suchen. Er ist der Schöpfer des Jahres, die Gestalt des Mantras (wie die heilige Silbe Oṃ), der Maßstab wahrer Autorität und die Askese selbst in höchster Vollendung.“
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises an ideal of spiritual greatness: true tapas is not merely self-mortification but a noble power aligned with cosmic order, sacred truth (mantra and pramāṇa), and compassionate responsiveness to those who seek refuge.
Vāyu-deva is speaking in eulogy, describing a supremely exalted being through a chain of epithets—great in austerity, compassionate to the distressed, and identified with cosmic time and sacred authority—thereby establishing that being’s spiritual and moral supremacy.