Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
तमस: परम ज्योतिस्तपस्तद्वृत्तिनां परम् य॑ ज्ञात्वा नानुशोचन्ति वरं तस्माद् वृणीमहे
tamasāḥ paraṃ jyotis tapaḥ tadvṛttināṃ param | yaṃ jñātvā nānuśocanti varaṃ tasmād vṛṇīmahe ||
Ia adalah Cahaya Tertinggi melampaui kegelapan, dan bagi para pertapa Ia adalah tapa yang paling luhur. Dengan mengenal-Nya, orang bijak tak lagi berduka. Maka kepada Tuhan Śiva itulah kami memohon anugerah.
शक्र उवाच
True knowledge of the supreme reality—described as the Light beyond ignorance—removes grief; spiritual discipline (tapas) culminates in such realization, and devotion turns toward that highest Lord (here, Śiva) as the giver of the sought boon.
Indra (Śakra), speaking on behalf of the gods, praises Śiva as the transcendent light and the summit of ascetic attainment, and declares their intention to approach Śiva to request a boon.