Shloka 25
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्त्वा तु भगवान् गुणांस्तस्य महात्मन: । उपस्पृश्य शुचिर्भूत्वा कथयामास धीमत:
vaiśampāyana uvāca evam uktvā tu bhagavān guṇāṁs tasya mahātmanaḥ | upaspṛśya śucir bhūtvā kathayāmāsa dhīmataḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Ayant ainsi parlé, le Seigneur Bienheureux décrivit alors les vertus de ce grand être. Après avoir accompli l’ācamana et être devenu rituellement pur, il se mit à exposer—avec sagesse et discernement—les excellences du Seigneur suprême Śiva, donnant à l’éloge qui suivait une tenue de respect et de discipline.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Before engaging in sacred speech—especially praise of a deity—one should adopt inner and outer discipline. The verse highlights ritual and ethical preparedness (purity, restraint, reverence) as a fitting foundation for truthful and elevating discourse.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, after concluding a prior statement, the Blessed Lord performs ācamana to become ritually pure and then begins describing the virtues of the great-souled Śiva, introducing a formal hymn-like section.