Shloka 103

Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration

Anuśāsana-parva 17

Devanagari script

अहिर्बुध्न्योड्निलाभश्व चेकितानो हविस्तथा । अजैकपाच्च कापाली त्रिशंकुरजित: शिव:

Transliteration

ahirbudhnyo 'nilābhaś ca cekitāno havis tathā | ajaikapāc ca kāpālī triśaṅkur ajitaḥ śivaḥ ||

Translation

ବାୟୁ କହିଲେ— (ସେ) ଅହିର୍ବୁଧ୍ନ୍ୟ, ଅନିଲାଭ; ଚେକିତାନ, ହବି ମଧ୍ୟ। ଅଜୈକପାଦ, କାପାଳୀ; ତ୍ରିଶଙ୍କୁ, ଅଜିତ, ଶିବ— ଏହି ନାମରେ ପରିଚିତ।

Word by Word

• अहिर्बुध्न्यः: Ahirbudhnya (a Rudra-name; serpent of the deep)
• अहिर्बुध्न्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहिर्बुध्न्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अनिलाभः: Anilābha (wind-like/with the speed of wind; a Rudra-name)
• अनिलाभः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिलाभ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• चेकितानः: Cekitāna (very knowing; a Rudra-name)
• चेकितानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेकितान
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हविः: Havis (oblation; a Rudra-name)
• हविः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: likewise/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अजैकपात्: Ajaikapād (one-footed Aja; a Rudra-name)
• अजैकपात्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजैकपाद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कापाली: Kāpālī (skull-bearing; a name of Śiva/Rudra)
• कापाली: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कापालिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्रिशङ्कुः: Triśaṅku (a Rudra-name)
• त्रिशङ्कुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशङ्कु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अजितः: unconquered
• अजितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• Śiva (Rudra)
• Ahirbudhnya
• Anilābha
• Cekitāna
• Havis
• Ajaikapād (Ekāpāda Rudra)
• Kāpālī
• Triśaṅku
• Ajita

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models devotional contemplation through a sequence of divine epithets: by recalling many names that point to different powers and virtues (invincibility, cosmic pervasiveness, auspiciousness), the listener is guided toward reverence, inner steadiness, and a dharmic orientation grounded in the sacred.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu-deva is speaking and reciting a set of names/epithets of Śiva (Rudra). The passage functions like a stuti or name-list, presenting multiple recognized forms/titles to honor the deity and emphasize his many aspects.