Shloka 90
Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration
Anuśāsana-parva 17
स्नेहनो<स्नेहनश्वैव अजितश्न महामुनि: । वृक्षाकारो वृक्षकेतुरनलो वायुवाहन:,४९४ स्नेहन:--प्रजाओंके प्रति पिताकी भाँति स्नेह रखनेवाले, ४९५ अस्नेहन:-- आसक्तिसे रहित, ४९६ अजित:--किसीसे पराजित न होनेवाले, ४९७ महामुनि:-- अत्यन्त मननशील, ४९८ वृक्षाकार:--संसारवृक्षस्वरूप, ४९९ वृक्षकेतु:--वृक्षके समान ऊँची ध्वजावाले, ५०० अनलः--अग्निस्वरूप, ५०१ वायुवाहन:--वायुका वाहनके रूपमें उपयोग करनेवाले
snehano ’snehanaś caiva ajitaśna mahāmuniḥ | vṛkṣākāro vṛkṣaketuranalo vāyuvāhanaḥ ||
Vāyu-deva said: “He is both affectionate and yet unattached; a great sage whose self-mastery is unconquered. He is tree-formed—the very image of the world-tree; he bears a banner lofty like a tree; he is fire itself; and he makes the wind his vehicle.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds an ethical ideal of balanced conduct: be warmly protective and beneficent toward others (snehanaḥ) while remaining inwardly free from attachment (asnehanaḥ). True greatness is shown as unconquerable self-discipline (ajitaśna) combined with compassionate responsibility.
Vāyu-deva is speaking in praise, listing epithets that describe an exalted being’s qualities and powers—affectionate yet detached, a great contemplative, possessing cosmic/tree symbolism, fiery energy, and wind-borne movement—typical of Mahābhārata’s laudatory catalogues of divine or heroic attributes.