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 ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଯେପରି ଭଗବାନ୍ ଶିବ ସମସ୍ତ ଦେବମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ସର୍ବଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବୋଲି ଗଣ୍ୟ, ସେପରି ବେଦତୁଲ୍ୟ ପବିତ୍ର ଏହି ସ୍ତବ ସମସ୍ତ ସ୍ତୁତିମଧ୍ୟରେ ସର୍ବଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ। ତେଣୁ ଯେମାନେ ଯଶ, ରାଜ୍ୟ, ସୁଖ, ଐଶ୍ୱର୍ୟ, କାମ୍ୟଫଳ, ଅର୍ଥ ଓ ଧନ ଆକାଂକ୍ଷା କରନ୍ତି, ଏବଂ ଯେମାନେ ବିଦ୍ୟା ଚାହାନ୍ତି, ସେମାନେ ଭକ୍ତି ଧାରଣ କରି ଯତ୍ନପୂର୍ବକ ଏହା ଶ୍ରବଣ କରନ୍ତୁ।
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.