Shloka 41
Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration
Anuśāsana-parva 17
दशबाहुस्त्वनिमिषो नीलकण्ठ उमापतिः । विश्वरूप: स्वयं श्रेष्ठी बलवीरोडबलो गण:
daśabāhus tv animiṣo nīlakaṇṭha umāpatiḥ | viśvarūpaḥ svayaṁ śreṣṭhī balavīro 'balo gaṇaḥ ||
Vāyu-dewa bersabda: “Ia berlengan sepuluh dan tak berkedip; Sang Nīlakaṇṭha, suami Umā. Ia berwujud semesta, teguh oleh keunggulan yang berdiri sendiri—gagah karena kekuatan—namun juga ‘kumpulan kaum tak berdaya’, tempat berlindung dan sandaran bersama bagi mereka yang tiada daya.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises Śiva as simultaneously supremely powerful and deeply compassionate: he bears cosmic responsibility (nīlakaṇṭha, viśvarūpa) and becomes the refuge of those without power (abala-gaṇa). Ethical emphasis falls on strength being used for protection and support of the vulnerable.
Vāyu is describing and eulogizing Śiva by listing epithets that highlight his form, deeds, and role in the moral order—especially his world-protecting act associated with the halāhala poison and his function as a shelter for the weak.