Shloka 123
Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration
Anuśāsana-parva 17
समाम्नायो5समाम्नायस्तीर्थदेवो महारथ: । निर्जीवो जीवनो मन्त्र: शुभाक्षो बहुकर्कश:
samāmnāyo 'samāmnāyas tīrthadevo mahārathaḥ | nirjīvo jīvano mantraḥ śubhākṣo bahukarkaśaḥ ||
Vāyu berkata: “Dia ialah Veda itu sendiri, dan juga apa yang berada di luar Veda; Dia ialah ketuhanan yang hadir pada segala tīrtha (tempat suci), dan pahlawan kereta perang yang agung. Walau tampak tidak bernyawa, Dialah pemberi kehidupan; Dialah Mantra itu sendiri. Pandangannya membawa berkat, namun pada saat pralaya (peleraian alam), Dia menjadi amat keras dan tidak berkompromi.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a comprehensive vision of the divine as the source and support of all sacred authority: both Vedic revelation (samāmnāya) and the wider sacred tradition (asamāmnāya). It also unites apparent opposites—lifeless form and life-giving power, gentleness and severe dissolution—teaching that the ultimate reality encompasses and governs all phases of cosmic and ethical order.
Vāyudeva is describing the nature of the supreme divine principle (as praised in this section): identifying it with scripture and tradition, with the sanctity of pilgrimage places, with mantra-power, and with cosmic functions—benevolent in sustaining life yet formidable in the time of destruction.