Shloka 144
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
व्याप्रसिंहमृगाणां च तरक्ष्वृक्षपतत्रिणाम् उलूकश्चशृगालानां रूपाणि कुरुतेडपि च,वे व्याप्र, सिंह, मृग, तरक्षु, रीछ, पक्षी, उल्लू, कुत्ते और सियारोंके भी रूप धारण कर लेते हैं
vyāghra-siṁha-mṛgāṇāṁ ca tarakṣv-ṛkṣa-patatriṇām | ulūka-śva-śṛgālānāṁ rūpāṇi kurute 'pi ca ||
വാസുദേവൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അവൻ പുലി, സിംഹം, മൃഗങ്ങൾ; തരക്ഷു (ഹൈന), ഋക്ഷം (കരടി), പക്ഷികൾ; അതുപോലെ ഉലൂകം (മൂങ്ങ), ശ്വാനം, ശൃഗാലം (നരി) എന്നിവയുടെ രൂപങ്ങളും സ്വീകരിക്കാം.
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
External appearance can be deliberately assumed and may mislead; therefore, ethical judgment should rest on conduct, intent, and adherence to dharma rather than on outward form.
Vāsudeva describes a being’s capacity to take on many animal forms—predators, scavengers, and birds—emphasizing the breadth of possible disguises and the need for discernment.