Shloka 77
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
उत्पादितं वृषाड्केन दीप्तज्वलनसंनिभम् | दत्तं भगवता तुभ्य॑ दुर्धर्ष तेजसाद्भुतम्
utpāditaṃ vṛṣāṅkena dīptajvalanasaṃnibham | dattaṃ bhagavatā tubhya durdharṣaṃ tejasādbhutam ||
Vāsudeva said: “That weapon, blazing like a kindled fire, was brought forth by the Lord who bears the bull-mark (Śiva) and bestowed upon you. Endowed with wondrous, irresistible radiance, it is unconquerable—granted earlier by Śaṅkara after he slew the proud demon who once dwelt within the waters.”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that true power is not merely personal might but divinely sanctioned energy used to uphold dharma. The ‘irresistible radiance’ of the weapon signifies moral and cosmic legitimacy: when the divine grants strength, it is meant for protection and righteous purpose, not pride.
Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) explains the origin and nature of a formidable weapon—fire-bright and unassailable—stating that Śiva (Vṛṣāṅka/Vṛṣadhvaja, Śaṅkara) produced it and bestowed it, recalling an earlier episode where Śiva slew a proud water-dwelling demon and then granted the weapon as a boon.