Shloka 22
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
जो ध्रुव (कूटस्थ), नन्दी (आनन्दमय), होता, गोप्ता (रक्षक), विश्वस्रष्टा, गार्हपत्य आदि अग्नि, मुण्डी (चूड़ारहित) और कपर्दी (जटाजूटधारी) हैं, उन भगवान् शंकरके महान् सौभाग्यका आप वर्णन कीजिये ।।
vāsudeva uvāca |
na gatiḥ karmaṇāṁ śakyā vettuṁ īśasya tattvataḥ |
hiraṇyagarbha-pramukhā devāḥ sendrā maharṣayaḥ ||
Nyatakanlah kemuliaan agung Sang Mahāvibhu: Dhruva, Nandin, Hotṛ, Goptṛ, Viśvasṛj, Agni, Muṇḍin, dan Kapardin. Vāsudeva bersabda: “Gerak dan hakikat perbuatan Sang Īśa tak mungkin diketahui sebagaimana adanya; para dewa yang dipimpin Hiraṇyagarbha (Brahmā), bersama Indra, dan para maharsi pun (tak sanggup memahaminya).”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
That the Lord’s true nature and the full trajectory of His actions are beyond complete comprehension—even for exalted beings like Brahmā, Indra, and great seers—so the proper ethical stance is humility and reverent restraint in judging divine acts.
Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) speaks about Śiva (Īśa), emphasizing that Śiva’s deeds and true essence cannot be fully known; he cites the inability of even the highest gods and sages to grasp that reality, setting a tone of awe and devotion.