Shloka 87
Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration
Anuśāsana-parva 17
महानासो महाकम्बुर्महाग्रीव: श्मशानभाक् । महावक्षा महोरस्को हान्तरात्मा मृगालय:
mahānāso mahākambur mahāgrīvaḥ śmaśānabhāk | mahāvakṣā mahorasko hy antarātmā mṛgālayaḥ ||
Vāyu-deva bersabda: “Ia berhidung lebar, berleher tebal, dan berleher gagah; ia bermain di tanah kremasi. Dadanya luas dan tubuhnya lapang lagi perkasa; ia adalah Diri Batin semua makhluk, dan ia pula tempat berlindung segala makhluk—yang dengan lembut memangku bahkan anak-anak hewan.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a devotional portrait of the deity (implicitly Śiva) that unites seemingly fearsome ascetic traits (dwelling in cremation-grounds) with profound ethical-spiritual significance (being the inner Self of all) and compassion (a refuge even for animals). It teaches reverence for the divine beyond conventional appearances and highlights the coexistence of transcendence and tenderness.
Vāyu-deva is describing the deity through a series of epithets—physical and symbolic—emphasizing both awe-inspiring aspects (mighty form, cremation-ground association) and universal immanence (antarātmā), thereby praising and identifying the divine nature being discussed in this section of the Anuśāsana Parva.