Shloka 77
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
उत्पादितं वृषाड्केन दीप्तज्वलनसंनिभम् | दत्तं भगवता तुभ्य॑ दुर्धर्ष तेजसाद्भुतम्
utpāditaṃ vṛṣāṅkena dīptajvalanasaṃnibham | dattaṃ bhagavatā tubhya durdharṣaṃ tejasādbhutam ||
Vāsudeva dit : «Cette arme, flamboyante comme un feu attisé, fut engendrée par le Seigneur qui porte l’emblème du taureau (Śiva) et te fut donnée. Pourvue d’une radiance merveilleuse et irrésistible, elle est invincible — don que Śaṅkara accorda jadis après avoir terrassé le démon orgueilleux qui demeurait dans les eaux.»
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that true power is not merely personal might but divinely sanctioned energy used to uphold dharma. The ‘irresistible radiance’ of the weapon signifies moral and cosmic legitimacy: when the divine grants strength, it is meant for protection and righteous purpose, not pride.
Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) explains the origin and nature of a formidable weapon—fire-bright and unassailable—stating that Śiva (Vṛṣāṅka/Vṛṣadhvaja, Śaṅkara) produced it and bestowed it, recalling an earlier episode where Śiva slew a proud water-dwelling demon and then granted the weapon as a boon.