Shloka 21
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
पूर्वकालमें ब्रह्मपुत्र तण्डीमुनिके द्वारा ब्रह्मलोकमें ब्रह्माजीके समक्ष जिस शिव- सहस्रनामका निरूपण किया गया था, उसीका आप वर्णन करें और ये उत्तम व्रतका पालन करनेवाले व्यास आदि तपोधन एवं जितेन्द्रिय महर्षि आपके मुखसे इसका श्रवण करें ।।
dhruvāya nandine hotre goptre viśvasṛje 'gnaye | mahābhāgyaṁ vibhor brūhi muṇḍine 'tha kapardine ||
पूर्वकाले ब्रह्मपुत्र तण्डीमुनिना ब्रह्मलोके ब्रह्मणः समक्षं यत् शिवसहस्रनाम निरूपितम् । तदेव त्वं वर्णय, ये च व्यासादयः तपोधनाः जितेन्द्रिया महर्षयः सुव्रताः, ते तव मुखात् श्रुण्वन्तु ॥ ध्रुवाय नन्दिने होत्रे गोप्त्रे विश्वसृजेऽग्नये । महाभाग्यं विभोर्ब्रूहि मुण्डिनेऽथ कपर्दिने ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames recitation of Shiva’s names as a dharmic practice: remembering the divine through precise, reverent speech is itself a vow that cultivates purity, steadiness, and alignment with cosmic order—seeing Shiva as protector, creator, and the inner fire of transformation.
Within Bhishma’s instruction, the Shiva-sahasranāma is being formally invoked. This verse strings together epithets of Shiva and urges their proclamation, continuing the litany that is to be heard by disciplined sages as part of a meritorious observance.