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 ||
वायू म्हणाला— तो महान तपस्वी, घोर तप करणारा; उदार आहे, आणि शरण आलेल्या दीन-दुःखींचे मनोरथ पूर्ण करणारा आहे। तो संवत्सराचा निर्माता; तो प्रणव आदि मंत्रस्वरूप; तो प्रमाण—सत्य अधिकार—आहे, आणि तपाचे परम स्वरूप आहे।
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.