Shloka 160
Adhyāya 284: Tapas as a Corrective to Household Attachment
Parāśara’s Instruction
न ब्रह्मा न च गोविन्द: पौराणा ऋषयो न ते । माहात्म्यं वेदितुं शक्ता याथातथ्येन ते शिव,शिव! आपके माहात्म्यको ठीक-ठीक जाननेमें ब्रह्मा, विष्णु तथा प्राचीन ऋषि भी समर्थ नहीं हैं
na brahmā na ca govindaḥ paurāṇā ṛṣayo na te | māhātmyaṁ vedituṁ śaktā yāthātathyena te śiva śiva ||
न ब्रह्मा न च गोविन्दः पुराणा ऋषयो न ते। माहात्म्यं वेदितुं शक्ता याथातथ्येन ते शिव॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Śiva’s true greatness is beyond complete comprehension—even for Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and the ancient sages—so the proper ethical posture is humility and reverent devotion rather than intellectual pride.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing and reflecting on dharma and higher truths; here he turns to a hymn-like praise of Śiva, emphasizing the immeasurable nature of Śiva’s māhātmya.