Shloka 77
Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration
Anuśāsana-parva 17
चतुर्मुखो महालिड्ल्शश्चवारुलिड्रस्तथैव च | लिड्डाध्यक्ष: सुराध्यक्षो योगाध्यक्षो युगावह:
caturmukho mahāliṅgaś cāru-liṅgas tathaiva ca | liṅgādhyakṣaḥ surādhyakṣo yogādhyakṣo yugāvahaḥ ||
Dijo Vāyu: «Él es de cuatro rostros; Él es el Gran Liṅga mismo, y también el Liṅga hermoso. Preside el Liṅga (y los medios de conocimiento válido por los que se le aprehende); es el señor de los dioses; preside el yoga; y sostiene y mantiene la sucesión de los cuatro yugas.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a devotional-theological portrait of Śiva as the supreme regulator: he is not only worshipped in the form of the Liṅga but is also the presiding power over divine governance (devas), inner discipline (yoga), and cosmic time (the yugas). Ethically, it implies that dharma is upheld through alignment with this higher order—ritual devotion, self-control, and respect for cosmic law.
Vāyu is speaking in praise, listing honorific epithets that describe Śiva’s forms and functions. The speech functions as a stotra-like enumeration, situating Śiva as the authoritative principle behind worship (liṅga), divine hierarchy (suras), spiritual practice (yoga), and the unfolding of ages (yugas).