Shloka 4
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
ब्रह्मविष्णुसुरेशानां स्रष्टा च प्रभुरेव च । ब्रह्मादय: पिशाचान्ता यं हि देवा उपासते
brahmaviṣṇusureśānāṁ sraṣṭā ca prabhureva ca | brahmādayaḥ piśācāntā yaṁ hi devā upāsate ||
Bhīṣma dit : « Lui seul est le Créateur et le Seigneur suprême, même de Brahmā, de Viṣṇu et des souverains parmi les dieux. En vérité, les dieux l’adorent—avec tous les êtres, de Brahmā au sommet jusqu’aux piśācas au plus bas—attestant que la vraie révérence revient à l’unique source et maître au-delà de tous les rangs. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that above even the highest gods stands one supreme Creator-Lord, worthy of worship by all beings; spiritual authority is grounded in ultimate sovereignty rather than mere rank or power.
Bhīṣma is describing the greatness of the supreme divine principle/person: even Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and the leading gods depend on and worship Him, and the scope of worship spans the entire cosmos from the highest to the lowest beings.