Shloka 93

Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration

Anuśāsana-parva 17

Devanagari script

उपकार: प्रिय: सर्व: कनक:ः काञउ्चनच्छवि: । नाभिननन्दिकरो भाव: पुष्करस्थपति: स्थिर:

Transliteration

upakāraḥ priyaḥ sarvaḥ kanakaḥ kāñcanacchaviḥ | nābhinandikaro bhāvaḥ puṣkarasthapatiḥ sthiraḥ ||

Translation

വായു പറഞ്ഞു—അവൻ ഉപകാരകനും എല്ലാവർക്കും പ്രിയനും; സ്വർണ്ണസ്വരൂപൻ, കാഞ്ചനസമാനമായ ദീപ്തിയുള്ളവൻ. പ്രശംസയോ ചാപല്യമോ തേടുന്ന സ്വഭാവമല്ല അവനുള്ളത്; ജലത്തിൽ നിലകൊള്ളുന്ന താമരപോലെ അവൻ സ്ഥിരനും ദൃഢനും.

Word by Word

उपकारःbenefit, service, favor

प्रियःdear, pleasing

सर्वःall, entire

कनकःgold

काञ्चनच्छविःgolden luster/complexion

नnot

अभिनन्दिकरःcausing rejoicing/approval

भावःdisposition, feeling, intent

पुष्करस्थपतिःlord of the lotus-seat (epithet, likely Brahmā)

स्थिरःsteady, firm

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyu (Vāyudeva)

puṣkara (lotus)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises an ideal character: one who benefits others, is loved by all, possesses inner and outer excellence, does not crave praise, and remains steady. Ethically, it commends humility (not seeking applause) together with consistent beneficence and firmness of mind.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu (the Wind-god) is describing someone’s qualities in a laudatory, evaluative manner—highlighting helpfulness, universal goodwill, radiant excellence, freedom from vanity, and unwavering steadiness, using the lotus as an image of stable poise.