Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration
Anuśāsana-parva 17
मन्थानो बहुलो वायु: सकल: सर्वलोचन: । तलस्ताल: करस्थाली ऊर्ध्वसंहननो महान्
manthāno bahulo vāyuḥ sakalaḥ sarvalocanaḥ | talastālaḥ karasthālī ūrdhvasaṃhanano mahān ||
Vāyu-deva berkata: “Dia ialah angin perkasa yang mengocak dunia—angin besar pada saat pralaya; sempurna dalam segala daya, melihat di mana-mana. Dia mengekalkan irama dengan menepuk tapak tangannya sendiri, menggunakan tangannya sebagai bekas makan; bertubuh tegap dengan rangka yang terangkat dan padat; dan sungguh agung.”
वायुदेव उवाच
The verse praises a being (or ideal) marked by immense power coupled with self-sufficiency and discipline: all-seeing awareness, strength, and the ascetic simplicity of needing little (even using one’s own hands as a vessel). It suggests that true greatness includes both capability and restraint.
Vāyu-deva is speaking and describing a formidable figure through a string of epithets—depicting cosmic force (wind that churns), omniscience (all-seeing), and ascetic habits (hand as bowl), along with a strong, upright physique—thereby characterizing the subject’s nature and stature.