Shloka 21
Rudra-Śiva: Names, Two Natures, and the Logic of Epithets (रुद्रनाम-बहुरूपत्व-प्रकरणम्)
अयं मुनिगण: सर्वस्तपस्तेप इति प्रभो | तपोवेषकरो लोके भ्रमते विविधाकृति:
ayaṁ munigaṇaḥ sarvas tapas tepa iti prabho | tapoveṣakaro loke bhramate vividhākṛtiḥ, prabho |
Nārada dit : « Ô Seigneur, toute cette multitude de sages a véritablement pratiqué l’austérité. Revêtant l’apparence extérieure des ascètes, elle parcourt le monde sous des formes diverses. Ô Seigneur — par désir de plaire à cette assemblée de voyants et aussi à moi — je t’en prie, dissipe ce doute qui est le mien. »
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between inner spiritual discipline (tapas) and mere external markers (the ascetic’s dress). It frames a sincere inquiry: how to understand beings who appear as ascetics and move through the world in varied forms, urging discernment beyond appearances.
Nārada addresses the Lord (Śiva in this context), pointing to an assembled host of sages who have practiced austerity and now wander the world in diverse appearances. He requests that his doubt about them be clarified, asking for an explanation that will be pleasing to the sages and to himself.