Shloka 39
Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration
Anuśāsana-parva 17
महातपा घोरतपा अदीनो दीनसाधक: । संवत्सरकरो मन्त्र: प्रमाणं परमं तप:
mahātapā ghoratapā adīno dīnasādhakaḥ | saṃvatsarakaro mantraḥ pramāṇaṃ paramaṃ tapaḥ ||
Vāyu-deva dit : «Il est un grand ascète, d’une austérité redoutable — noble et jamais mesquin —, qui accomplit les espérances des affligés venus chercher refuge. Il est le créateur de l’année, la forme même du mantra (telle la syllabe sacrée Oṃ), la mesure de l’autorité véritable, et l’austérité en sa perfection suprême.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises an ideal of spiritual greatness: true tapas is not merely self-mortification but a noble power aligned with cosmic order, sacred truth (mantra and pramāṇa), and compassionate responsiveness to those who seek refuge.
Vāyu-deva is speaking in eulogy, describing a supremely exalted being through a chain of epithets—great in austerity, compassionate to the distressed, and identified with cosmic time and sacred authority—thereby establishing that being’s spiritual and moral supremacy.