Shloka 21
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
पूर्वकालमें ब्रह्मपुत्र तण्डीमुनिके द्वारा ब्रह्मलोकमें ब्रह्माजीके समक्ष जिस शिव- सहस्रनामका निरूपण किया गया था, उसीका आप वर्णन करें और ये उत्तम व्रतका पालन करनेवाले व्यास आदि तपोधन एवं जितेन्द्रिय महर्षि आपके मुखसे इसका श्रवण करें ।।
dhruvāya nandine hotre goptre viśvasṛje 'gnaye | mahābhāgyaṁ vibhor brūhi muṇḍine 'tha kapardine ||
«Oh hijo de Brahmā, describe precisamente aquel Sahasranāma de Śiva que en tiempos antiguos el muni Taṇḍī expuso en el mundo de Brahmā ante el propio Brahmā; y que estos grandes rishis, ricos en tapas—Vyāsa y los demás—observantes de votos excelsos y dueños de sus sentidos, lo escuchen de tu boca. Proclama los epítetos auspiciosos del Señor: el Firme, el Gozoso, el Sacerdote del sacrificio, el Protector, el Creador del universo, el Fuego divino, el Tonsurado y el de cabellera enmarañada.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames recitation of Shiva’s names as a dharmic practice: remembering the divine through precise, reverent speech is itself a vow that cultivates purity, steadiness, and alignment with cosmic order—seeing Shiva as protector, creator, and the inner fire of transformation.
Within Bhishma’s instruction, the Shiva-sahasranāma is being formally invoked. This verse strings together epithets of Shiva and urges their proclamation, continuing the litany that is to be heard by disciplined sages as part of a meritorious observance.