Shloka 3
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
भीष्म उवाच अशक्तोडहं गुणान् वक्तुं महादेवस्य धीमतः । यो हि सर्वगतो देवो न च सर्वत्र दृश्यते
bhīṣma uvāca: aśakto 'haṃ guṇān vaktuṃ mahādevasya dhīmataḥ | yo hi sarvagato devo na ca sarvatra dṛśyate ||
Bhishma said: “I am not capable of fully describing the qualities of the wise Mahādeva. For he is the deity who pervades everything, and yet he is not seen everywhere.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a theological paradox: Mahādeva is immanent (present everywhere) yet transcendent (not graspable by ordinary perception). It also models humility—Bhīṣma admits the limits of speech when describing the divine.
Bhīṣma begins a praise or exposition concerning Mahādeva, but first states his inability to adequately describe Śiva’s qualities, emphasizing Śiva’s all-pervading nature and invisibility to common sight.