Shloka 136
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
को हि तत्त्वेन तद् वेद ईशस्य चरितं शुभम् । कृतवान् यानि रूपाणि देवदेव: पुरा किल | क्रीडते च तथा शर्व: प्रसीदति यथा च वै
ko hi tattvena tad veda īśasya caritaṁ śubham | kṛtavān yāni rūpāṇi devadevaḥ purā kila || krīḍate ca tathā śarvaḥ prasīdati yathā ca vai |
Vāsudeva dit : Qui donc, en vérité, pourrait connaître pleinement les actes auspices et le mystère du Seigneur—quelles formes le Dieu des dieux, Mahādeva, prit jadis aux temps anciens ? Et qui saurait comprendre comment Śarva (Śiva) se livre au jeu divin, et de quelle manière Il se laisse satisfaire ? Ce vers rappelle les limites de l’intelligence humaine devant le sacré, et appelle à l’humilité et à une dévotion révérencieuse plutôt qu’à une certitude présomptueuse.
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches epistemic humility in matters of the divine: the Lord’s manifestations and the ways Śiva delights or is pleased are ultimately beyond complete human grasp. Therefore one should approach the divine with reverence, devotion, and restraint from dogmatic claims.
Vāsudeva reflects on the inscrutability of Śiva’s sacred deeds—His past manifestations, His divine play, and the conditions of His grace—framing the discussion as a reminder that divine conduct cannot be fully measured by ordinary human standards.