Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 22
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
जो ध्रुव (कूटस्थ), नन्दी (आनन्दमय), होता, गोप्ता (रक्षक), विश्वस्रष्टा, गार्हपत्य आदि अग्नि, मुण्डी (चूड़ारहित) और कपर्दी (जटाजूटधारी) हैं, उन भगवान् शंकरके महान् सौभाग्यका आप वर्णन कीजिये ।।
vāsudeva uvāca |
na gatiḥ karmaṇāṁ śakyā vettuṁ īśasya tattvataḥ |
hiraṇyagarbha-pramukhā devāḥ sendrā maharṣayaḥ ||
“He is Dhruva, the Unshaken; Nandī, the Joyous; the Hotṛ, the sacrificial priest; the Goptṛ, the protector; the creator of the universe; the sacred Fire such as the Gārhapatya; the Shaven one; and the Lord of matted locks. Therefore describe the great auspiciousness of Bhagavān Śaṅkara.” Vāsudeva said: “The true course and measure of the Lord’s deeds cannot be known in reality. Even the gods headed by Hiraṇyagarbha (Brahmā), together with Indra and the great seers, are unable to fathom Him as He truly is.”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
That the Lord’s true nature and the full trajectory of His actions are beyond complete comprehension—even for exalted beings like Brahmā, Indra, and great seers—so the proper ethical stance is humility and reverent restraint in judging divine acts.
Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) speaks about Śiva (Īśa), emphasizing that Śiva’s deeds and true essence cannot be fully known; he cites the inability of even the highest gods and sages to grasp that reality, setting a tone of awe and devotion.