Shloka 194
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
अनादिमध्यपर्यन्तं ज्ञानैश्वर्यमचिन्तितम् । आत्मानं परमं यस्माद् वरं तस्माद् वृणीमहे
anādimadhyaparyantaṁ jñānaiśvaryam acintitam | ātmānaṁ paramaṁ yasmād varaṁ tasmād vṛṇīmahe ||
«Lui qui n’a ni commencement, ni milieu, ni fin ; dont la souveraineté est la connaissance pure ; et qui demeure au-delà de la portée de la pensée — c’est pour cela qu’on l’appelle le Soi suprême. Ainsi, c’est de ce Mahādeva même que nous demanderons le don.»
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the highest refuge and giver of true boons is the Supreme—limitless in time (no beginning, middle, or end), whose real power is knowledge, and who transcends mental grasp. Ethically, it elevates humility and right orientation: seeking grace from the ultimate reality rather than from finite, ego-driven sources.
Indra (Śakra), speaking on behalf of the gods, identifies Mahādeva as the supreme, inconceivable Self and resolves to approach him to obtain a boon. The line functions as a formal declaration of intent grounded in praise of Śiva’s transcendence.