Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration
Anuśāsana-parva 17
उपकार: प्रिय: सर्व: कनक:ः काञउ्चनच्छवि: । नाभिननन्दिकरो भाव: पुष्करस्थपति: स्थिर:
upakāraḥ priyaḥ sarvaḥ kanakaḥ kāñcanacchaviḥ | nābhinandikaro bhāvaḥ puṣkarasthapatiḥ sthiraḥ ||
Vāyu sprach: „Er ist hilfreich und allen lieb; golden, von strahlendem, goldgleichem Glanz. Sein Wesen sucht weder Beifall noch Schmeichelei; er ist standhaft und fest wie ein Lotos, der auf den Wassern ruht.“
वायुदेव उवाच
The verse praises an ideal character: one who benefits others, is loved by all, possesses inner and outer excellence, does not crave praise, and remains steady. Ethically, it commends humility (not seeking applause) together with consistent beneficence and firmness of mind.
Vāyu (the Wind-god) is describing someone’s qualities in a laudatory, evaluative manner—highlighting helpfulness, universal goodwill, radiant excellence, freedom from vanity, and unwavering steadiness, using the lotus as an image of stable poise.