Shloka 86
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
त॑ं वै शतमुख: प्राह योगो भवतु मे5द्भुत: । बलं॑ च दैवतश्रेष्ठ शाश्वतं सम्प्रयच्छ मे,उससे संतुष्ट होकर भगवान् शंकरने पूछा--“बताओ, मैं तुम्हारा कौन-सा मनोरथ पूर्ण करूँ?” तब शतमुखने उनसे कहा--'सुरश्रेष्ठ! मुझे अद्भुत योगशक्ति प्राप्त हो। साथ ही आप मुझे सदा बना रहनेवाला बल प्रदान कीजिये”
taṁ vai śatamukhaḥ prāha yogo bhavatu me 'dbhutaḥ | balaṁ ca daivataśreṣṭha śāśvataṁ samprayaccha me ||
Lalu Śatamukha berkata: “Wahai yang terbaik di antara para dewa, jadikanlah bagiku suatu kuasa yoga yang menakjubkan; dan kurniakanlah kepadaku juga kekuatan yang kekal.”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension in seeking divine gifts: yogic power and lasting strength are ethically neutral in themselves, but their pursuit and use must be restrained by dharma; otherwise, boons can amplify ego, violence, or injustice.
A petitioner named Śatamukha addresses a supreme deity (called 'best of the gods') and asks for two boons—marvelous yogic power and permanent strength—within a typical Mahābhārata boon-granting episode.