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 berkata: “Ia seorang pertapa agung, dengan tapa yang menggetarkan; luhur dan tak pernah kikir hati; ia yang menunaikan harapan orang papa yang datang berlindung. Ia pembentuk tahun, wujud mantra (seperti Oṃ), ukuran otoritas yang benar, dan tapa itu sendiri dalam kesempurnaan tertinggi.”
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.