Shloka 73
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
तोषयित्वा शुभान् कामान् प्राप्तवन्तो जनार्दन । जनार्दन! यहाँ सुरश्रेष्ठ महादेवजीको तपस्या
vāsudeva uvāca | toṣayitvā śubhān kāmān prāptavanto janārdana | janārdana! iha suraśreṣṭha-mahādevajīṃ tapasā brahmacaryeṇa satyena indriya-saṃyamena ca santoṣya pūrvaṃ bahavo devā maharṣayaś ca sva-śubhāṃś ca manorathān prāptavantaḥ || meru-kampanaḥ hiraṇyakaśipur nāma dānavaḥ pūrvam abhūt | tena śarvāt sarvāmara-aiśvaryaṃ samārbudam (daśa-koṭi-varṣāṇi) prāptam ||
Vāsudeva berkata: “Wahai Janārdana, dahulu kala banyak dewa dan maharsi memperoleh cita-cita mulia mereka setelah menyenangkan Mahādeva, yang terbaik di antara para dewa, melalui tapa, brahmacarya, kebenaran, dan pengendalian indria. Bahkan raksasa Hiraṇyakaśipu, yang mampu mengguncang Gunung Meru, pernah memperoleh dari Śarva (Śiva) kemegahan dan kedaulatan seluruh para dewa selama satu ‘arbuda’—sepuluh crore tahun.”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Auspicious aims are achieved by disciplined virtues—tapas (austerity), brahmacarya (regulated celibate conduct), satya (truth), and indriya-saṃyama (sense-restraint). The passage underscores that spiritual power and even extraordinary boons are linked to ethical self-mastery and sustained discipline.
Vāsudeva addresses Janārdana and cites precedents: many gods and sages previously pleased Mahādeva through ascetic virtues and gained their desired ends. As a striking example, he mentions the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu, famed for shaking Meru, who obtained from Śiva the sovereignty of the gods for an immense duration (an arbuda, explained as ten crores of years).