Shloka 17

Devanagari script

सर्व: शर्व: शिव: स्थाणुर्भूतादिर्निधिरव्यय: । सम्भवो भावनो भर्ता प्रभव: प्रभुरीक्षर:

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | sarvaḥ śarvaḥ śivaḥ sthāṇur bhūtādir nidhir avyayaḥ | sambhavo bhāvano bhartā prabhavaḥ prabhur īśvaraḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ସେଇ ସର୍ବ; ସେଇ ଶର୍ବ—ପ୍ରଳୟକାଳେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ସଂହାର କରୁଥିବା; ସେଇ ଶିବ—ମଙ୍ଗଳସ୍ୱରୂପ ଓ ତ୍ରିଗୁଣାତୀତ; ସେଇ ସ୍ଥାଣୁ—ଅଚଳ ଓ ଧ୍ରୁବ। ସେଇ ଭୂତମାନଙ୍କର ଆଦିକାରଣ, ଏବଂ ସେଇ ଅବ୍ୟୟ ନିଧି—ପ୍ରଳୟେ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣୀ ଯେଉଁଠି ଲୀନ ହୁଅନ୍ତି। ସେ ନିଜ ଇଚ୍ଛାରେ ପ୍ରକଟ ହୁଅନ୍ତି, ଭୋକ୍ତାମାନଙ୍କ କର୍ମଫଳ ଉତ୍ପନ୍ନ କରନ୍ତି, ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ଧାରଣ ଓ ପୋଷଣ କରନ୍ତି; ସେ ଦିବ୍ୟ-ଉତ୍କୃଷ୍ଟ ଉଦ୍ଭବବାନ, ସର୍ବପ୍ରଭୁ, ଏବଂ ଉପାଧିରହିତ ଐଶ୍ୱର୍ୟର ଈଶ୍ୱର।

Word by Word

• सर्वः: the all; all-pervading
• सर्वः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शर्वः: Śarva (a name of Rudra/Śiva; destroyer)
• शर्वः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शिवः: Śiva; auspicious one
• शिवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्थाणुः: the immovable; the steadfast
• स्थाणुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थाणु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भूतादिः: origin/source of beings
• भूतादिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतादि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निधिः: treasure; repository; abode
• निधिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अव्ययः: imperishable; undecaying
• अव्ययः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सम्भवः: self-manifesting; origin; coming into being
• सम्भवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्भव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भावनः: producer; nourisher; one who brings about (results)
• भावनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भावन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भर्ता: supporter; sustainer
• भर्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रभवः: source; mighty origin; excellent birth
• प्रभवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रभुः: lord; master
• प्रभुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ईश्वरः: sovereign; God; ruler
• ईश्वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (speaker)
• Shiva/Rudra (as the deity praised through epithets: Śarva, Śiva, Sthāṇu, Īśvara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches a devotional and ethical vision of the Supreme as both transcendent and immanent: the same Lord who dissolves the cosmos also sustains it, dispenses the fruits of actions, and remains imperishable. This supports dharma by grounding moral causality (karma-phala) and refuge (nidhi/avyaya) in a sovereign, auspicious Lord.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and praises the deity through a litany of divine names. Here he recites epithets of Śiva/Rudra, describing cosmic roles—creation/manifestation, sustenance, karmic governance, and dissolution—to establish the Lord’s supremacy and worthiness of worship.