Shloka 43
प्रपद्ये शरणं देवं शरण्यं चीरवाससम् | कोटि-कोटि ब्रह्माण्डोंको धारण करनेके कारण जिनका उदर और शरीर विशाल है, जो व्याप्रचर्म ओढ़ा करते हैं, जो लोकेश्वर, वरदायक, मुण्डितमस्तक, ब्राह्मणहितैषी तथा ब्राह्मणोंके प्रिय हैं। जिनके हाथमें त्रिशूल, ढाल, तलवार और पिनाक आदि अस्त्र शोभा पाते हैं, जो वरदायक, प्रभु, सुन्दर शरीरधारी, तीनों लोकोंके स्वामी तथा साक्षात् ईश्वर हैं, उन चीरवस्त्रधारी, शरणागतवत्सल भगवान् शिवकी मैं शरण लेता हूँ || ४१-४२ $ ।। नमस्तस्मै सुरेशाय यस्य वैश्रवण: सखा,कुबेर जिनके सखा हैं, उन देवेश्वर शिवको नमस्कार है। प्रभो! आप उत्तम वस्त्र, उत्तम व्रत और उत्तम धनुष धारण करते हैं। आप धनुर्धर देवताको धनुष प्रिय है, आप धन्वी, धन्वन्तर, धनुष और धन्वाचार्य हैं, आपको नमस्कार है। भयंकर आयुध धारण करनेवाले सुरश्रेष्ठ महादेवजीको नमस्कार है
prapadye śaraṇaṃ devaṃ śaraṇyaṃ cīravāsasam | koṭi-koṭi-brahmāṇḍānāṃ dhāraṇakāraṇād yasya udaraṃ śarīraṃ ca viśālam, vyāghracarma-paridhānaṃ, yo lokeśvaraḥ varadaḥ muṇḍitamastakaḥ brāhmaṇahitaiṣī brāhmaṇapriyaś ca | yasya haste triśūla-ḍhāla-khaḍga-pinākādayo 'strāṇi śobhante, yo varadaḥ prabhuḥ sundaraśarīradhārī trilokasvāmī sākṣād īśvaraś ca, taṃ cīravāsasaṃ śaraṇāgatavatsalaṃ bhagavantaṃ śivaṃ śaraṇaṃ prapadye || namas tasmai sureśāya yasya vaiśravaṇaḥ sakhā | prabho tvam uttamavastraṃ uttamavrataṃ uttamadhanur dharasi | dhanurdharadevatāyā dhanur priyaṃ, tvaṃ dhanvī dhanvantaraḥ dhanuḥ dhanvācāryaś ca, tubhyaṃ namaḥ | bhayaṅkarāyudhadhāriṇe sureśreṣṭhāya mahādevāya namaḥ ||
Vyāsa says: “I take refuge in Śiva, the divine protector, the worthy refuge, the ascetic clad in bark-garments. His belly and body are vast, as though bearing countless cosmic eggs; he wears a tiger-skin. He is the Lord of the worlds, the giver of boons, shaven-headed, a well-wisher of Brahmins and dear to them. In his hands shine the trident, shield, sword, and Pināka and other weapons. He is the boon-giver, the sovereign, of beautiful form, master of the three worlds—indeed God himself. In that bark-clad Lord Śiva, tender to those who surrender, I seek shelter. “Salutations to that Lord of the gods whose friend is Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera). O Lord, you bear the finest garments, the finest vows, and the finest bow. To you—bowman, healer (Dhanvantari), bow itself, and teacher of archery—salutation. Salutation to Mahādeva, best of the gods, who bears terrible weapons.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage teaches śaraṇāgati—seeking refuge in the divine as the highest protection—by praising Śiva as the supreme lord who is compassionate to those who surrender, and as the upholder of cosmic order even amid the violence of war.
In the Drona Parva’s war setting, Vyāsa utters a hymn of praise to Śiva, invoking his attributes, weapons, and sovereignty, and offering salutations—an act that frames the unfolding conflict within a larger moral and cosmic authority.