Shloka 127
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
अप्रसाद्य विरूपाक्षं वरदं स्थाणुमव्ययम् । कुत: क्षीरोदनं वत्स सुखानि वसनानि च
aprasādya virūpākṣaṃ varadaṃ sthāṇum avyayam | kutaḥ kṣīrodanaṃ vatsa sukhāni vasanāni ca ||
Vāsudeva dit : «Mon enfant, sans obtenir d’abord la faveur de Virūpākṣa —le Seigneur dispensateur de dons, toujours immuable et impérissable—, d’où viendraient le riz au lait, les jouissances paisibles et les beaux vêtements ?»
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Material comforts and social well-being are portrayed as dependent on dharmic conduct and divine favor; one should first honor and propitiate the boon-giving, imperishable Lord (here, Śiva as Virūpākṣa) rather than seeking pleasures directly.
Vāsudeva addresses a younger listener (“vatsa”), stressing that without pleasing Virūpākṣa (Śiva), one cannot expect even basic luxuries like milk-rice, enjoyable comforts, and good clothing—framing prosperity as the fruit of reverence and right worship.