Shloka 103

Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration

Anuśāsana-parva 17

Devanagari script

अहिर्बुध्न्योड्निलाभश्व चेकितानो हविस्तथा । अजैकपाच्च कापाली त्रिशंकुरजित: शिव:,६०६ अहिर्बुध्न्य:--शेषनागस्वरूप, ६०७ अनिलाभ:--वायुके समान वेगवान्‌, ६०८ चेकितान:--अतिशय ज्ञानसम्पन्न, ६०९ हवि:--हविष्यरूप, ६१० अजैकपाद--ग्यारह रद्रोमेसे एक, ६११ कापाली--दो कपालोंसे निर्मित कपालरूप अखिल ब्रह्माण्डके अधीश्वर, ६१२ त्रिशंकु:-त्रिशंकुरूप, ६१३ अजितः-किसीके द्वारा पराजित न होनेवाले, ६१४ शिव:--कल्याणस्वरूप

Transliteration

ahirbudhnyo 'nilābhaś ca cekitāno havis tathā | ajaikapāc ca kāpālī triśaṅkur ajitaḥ śivaḥ ||

Translation

Vāyu-deva said: “He is known as Ahirbudhnya, and also Anilābha; Cekitāna, and Havis as well; Ajaikapād, the Kāpālī; Triśaṅku, Ajita—the Unconquered—and Śiva.”

Word by Word

अहिर्बुध्न्यःAhirbudhnya (a Rudra-name; serpent of the deep)

अनिलाभःAnilābha (wind-like/with the speed of wind; a Rudra-name)

चand

चेकितानःCekitāna (very knowing; a Rudra-name)

हविःHavis (oblation; a Rudra-name)

तथाlikewise/also

अजैकपात्Ajaikapād (one-footed Aja; a Rudra-name)

चand

कापालीKāpālī (skull-bearing; a name of Śiva/Rudra)

त्रिशङ्कुःTriśaṅku (a Rudra-name)

अजितःunconquered

शिवःŚiva (auspicious one)

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyu (Vāyudeva)

Śiva (Rudra)

Ahirbudhnya

Anilābha

Cekitāna

Havis

Ajaikapād (Ekāpāda Rudra)

Kāpālī

Triśaṅku

Ajita

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models devotional contemplation through a sequence of divine epithets: by recalling many names that point to different powers and virtues (invincibility, cosmic pervasiveness, auspiciousness), the listener is guided toward reverence, inner steadiness, and a dharmic orientation grounded in the sacred.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu-deva is speaking and reciting a set of names/epithets of Śiva (Rudra). The passage functions like a stuti or name-list, presenting multiple recognized forms/titles to honor the deity and emphasize his many aspects.