Shloka 165
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
वादको गायनश्वैव सहस्रशतलोचन: । एकवतक्त्रो द्विवक्त्रश्न त्रिवक्त्रोडनेकवक्त्रक:,वे बाजा बजानेवाले और गीत गानेवाले हैं। उनके लाखों नेत्र हैं। वे एकमुख, द्विमुख, त्रिमुख और अनेक मुखवाले हैं
vādakā gāyanaś caiva sahasraśata-locanāḥ | ekavaktrā dvivaktrāś ca trivaktrā anekavaktrāḥ ||
Vāsudeva said: “There are those who play instruments and those who sing. They are described as having hundreds and thousands of eyes, and as possessing one face, two faces, three faces, and even many faces.”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the immeasurable and multi-formed nature of the divine order: countless capacities (many eyes) and manifold expressions (many faces) exist within a single sacred cosmos, encouraging humility and reverence toward realities beyond ordinary perception.
Vāsudeva describes a grand assembly or retinue that includes musicians and singers, portraying them with extraordinary features—many eyes and varying numbers of faces—to convey their superhuman, awe-inspiring character.