Shloka 147
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
छागशार्दूलरूपश्न अनेकमृगरूपधृक् । अण्डजानां च दिव्यानां वपुर्धारयते भव:
chāgaśārdūlarūpaś ca anekamṛgarūpadhṛk | aṇḍajānāṃ ca divyānāṃ vapur dhārayate bhavaḥ ||
Vāsudeva dit : «Bhava (Śiva) revêt des corps aux formes innombrables : il apparaît même en chèvre et en tigre ; il prend aussi l’aspect de divers animaux sauvages, et jusqu’aux formes d’oiseaux divins. L’enseignement souligne la présence omnipénétrante et changeante du Seigneur, et invite à vénérer la vie dans la diversité de ses manifestations.»
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that Śiva (Bhava) is not confined to a single appearance; he can manifest in countless embodied forms, even as animals and birds. Ethically, it supports a dharmic attitude of humility and reverence toward the diversity of living beings, seeing the divine presence permeating creation.
Vāsudeva is describing Śiva’s capacity to assume many forms. By listing animal and bird embodiments, he emphasizes Śiva’s vast, all-encompassing nature and the wondrous scope of divine manifestation.