Shloka 21
Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration
Anuśāsana-parva 17
इदं ब्रह्मा पुरा कुत्वा सर्वतलोकपितामह: । सर्वस्तवानां राजत्वे दिव्यानां समकल्पयत्
idaṁ brahmā purā kṛtvā sarvalokapitāmahaḥ | sarvastavānāṁ rājatve divyānāṁ samakalpayat ||
Vāyu dit : «Dans les temps anciens, Brahmā —l’Aïeul de tous les mondes— composa cet hymne et l’établit comme le “roi” parmi tous les stotras divins. Parce qu’il suffit de s’en souvenir, fût-ce à l’ultime heure de la vie, pour conduire l’homme vers le but suprême, cet hymne aux mille noms est d’une pureté souveraine, de bon augure, accroît l’intelligence et procure le bien en totalité.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sacred praise (stotra) is presented as a potent ethical-spiritual practice: a hymn established by Brahmā as supreme among divine stotras is said to be purifying and auspicious, and even its remembrance at the end of life is linked with attaining the highest good (parama-gati).
Vāyu speaks about the origin and status of a celebrated thousand-named hymn: Brahmā composed it in ancient times and installed it as the foremost (‘king’) among divine hymns; the surrounding context identifies it as a widely revered stotra connected with Mahādeva (Śiva) and known as ‘Stavarāja’.