Shloka 194
Adhyāya 284: Tapas as a Corrective to Household Attachment
Parāśara’s Instruction
जैसे भगवान् शिव सब देवताओंमें श्रेष्ठ हैं, उसी प्रकार यह वेदतुल्य स्तोत्र सभी स्तुतियोंमें श्रेष्ठ है ।। यशोराज्यसुखैश्वर्यकामार्थधनकांक्षिभि: | श्रोतव्यो भक्तिमास्थाय विद्याकामैश्ष यत्नतः
yathā bhagavān śivaḥ sarvadevatāsu śreṣṭhaḥ, tathā idaṃ vedatulyaṃ stotraṃ sarvastutīṣu śreṣṭham || yaśorājyasukhaiśvaryakāmārthadhanākāṅkṣibhiḥ | śrotavyaṃ bhaktim āsthāya vidyākāmaiś ca yatnataḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Sebagaimana Tuhan Yang Mulia Śiva dianggap yang terutama antara segala dewa, demikian juga himne ini—suci setara dengan Veda—adalah yang terutama antara segala pujian. Maka, mereka yang menginginkan kemasyhuran, kedaulatan, kebahagiaan, kekuasaan, tercapainya hasrat, manfaat, dan harta, serta mereka yang mendambakan ilmu, hendaklah mendengarnya dengan bhakti dan dengan usaha yang bersungguh-sungguh.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that a truly authoritative hymn—likened to the Veda—should be approached through devoted listening. Such devotional receptivity is presented as a dharmic means that supports both worldly aims (fame, sovereignty, prosperity) and higher aims (knowledge).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction setting, Bhīṣma is recommending and extolling a particular Śiva-stotra, declaring it supreme among praises and urging various seekers—of success, wealth, and learning—to listen to it with devotion and diligence.