Shloka 25
Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration
Anuśāsana-parva 17
ब्रहद्मणामपि यद् ब्रह्म पराणामपि यत् परम्,जो वेदोंके भी वेद, उत्तम वस्तुओंमें भी परम उत्तम, तेजके भी तेज, तपके भी तप, शान्त पुरुषोंमें भी परम शान्त, कान्तिकी भी कान्ति, जितेन्द्रियोंमें भी परम जितेन्द्रिय, बुद्धिमानोंकी भी बुद्धि, देवताओंके भी देवता, ऋषियोंके भी ऋषि, यज्ञोंके भी यज्ञ, कल्याणोंके भी कल्याण, रुद्रोंके भी रुद्र, प्रभावशाली ईश्वरोंकी भी प्रभा (ऐश्वर्य), योगियोंके भी योगी तथा कारणोंके भी कारण हैं। जिनसे सम्पूर्ण लोक उत्पन्न होते और फिर उन्हींमें विलीन हो जाते हैं, जो सम्पूर्ण भूतोंके आत्मा हैं, उन्हीं अमित तेजस्वी भगवान् शिवके एक हजार आठ नामोंका वर्णन मुझसे सुनिये। पुरुषसिंह! इसका श्रवणमात्र करके आप अपनी सम्पूर्ण कामनाओंको प्राप्त कर लेंगे
vāyudeva uvāca | brahmaṇām api yad brahma parāṇām api yat param | yo vedānām api veda uttamānām api cottamaḥ | tejasām api tejaḥ sa tapasām api tapaḥ | śāntānām api yaḥ śāntaḥ kāntīnām api kāntiḥ | jitendriyāṇām api yaḥ jitendriyaḥ buddhimatām api buddhir | devānām api devo ya ṛṣīṇām api ṛṣiḥ | yajñānām api yajñaḥ sa kalyāṇānām api kalyāṇam | rudrāṇām api rudro yaḥ prabhāvavatām īśvarāṇām api prabhā | yoginām api yogī ca kāraṇānām api kāraṇam | yasmāt sarve lokāḥ prabhavanti punar eva ca tasminn eva pralīyante | yaḥ sarvabhūtātma sa evāmita-tejā bhagavān śivaḥ | tasya me śṛṇu vīra sahasram aṣṭottaraṃ nāmnāṃ varṇanam | śravaṇamātreṇa ca sarvakāmān avāpsyasi ||
Vāyudeva said: “He who is the very Brahman even of the knowers of Brahman, the Supreme even of all that is supreme; the ‘Veda’ even of the Vedas; the highest among the highest; the brilliance even of brilliance; the austerity even of austerity; the most tranquil among the tranquil; the radiance even of radiance; the most self-controlled among the self-controlled; the intelligence even of the intelligent; the god even of the gods; the seer even of the seers; the sacrifice even of sacrifices; the auspiciousness even of the auspicious; the Rudra even of the Rudras; the majesty even of mighty lords; the yogin even of yogins; and the cause even of causes— From him all worlds arise, and into him again they dissolve; he is the Self of all beings—he, the Lord Śiva of immeasurable splendor. O best of men, listen from me to the recital of his one thousand and eight names. By hearing it alone, you will attain all your desires.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents Śiva as the supreme ground of all excellences—knowledge, austerity, peace, radiance, self-control, and sacrificial merit—and as the cosmic source into whom all worlds arise and dissolve. It also teaches the devotional efficacy of śravaṇa (reverent hearing): listening to the Lord’s names is portrayed as a powerful spiritual act that fulfills aims and purifies intention.
Vāyudeva begins a formal praise of Śiva, introducing him through a chain of superlative epithets and then announcing the forthcoming recitation of Śiva’s 1008 names. He addresses a heroic listener (implicitly a ‘best of men’) and promises that mere hearing of the name-litany will grant the listener’s desired goals.