Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 22
Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration
Anuśāsana-parva 17
तदाप्रभृति चैवायमी श्वरस्य महात्मन: । स्तवराज इति ख्यातो जगत्यमरपूजित:
tadāprabhṛti caivāyam īśvarasya mahātmanaḥ | stavarāja iti khyāto jagaty amarapūjitaḥ ||
तब से यह महात्मा ईश्वर (महादेव) का स्तोत्र जगत में ‘स्तवराज’ के नाम से प्रसिद्ध हुआ और अमरों (देवताओं) द्वारा पूजित-आदरित होने लगा।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a hymn sanctified by authoritative tradition becomes a supreme object of devotion—so revered that even the gods honor it—and that such remembrance/praise of the Lord is held to be spiritually efficacious, guiding one toward the highest good.
Vāyudeva is describing how a particular praise-hymn to the great Lord (understood as Mahādeva/Īśvara) came to be established and, from that point onward, became famous in the world under the title “Stavarāja,” honored even by the immortals.