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 ||
“O anak ni Brahmā, isalaysay mo yaong Sahasranāma ni Śiva na noong unang panahon ay ipinaliwanag ni muni Taṇḍī sa Brahmaloka sa harap ni Brahmā; at nawa’y marinig ito mula sa iyong bibig ng mga dakilang rishi—gaya ni Vyāsa—na mayaman sa pagtitika, tagapag-ingat ng mararangal na panata at nagwagi sa mga pandama. Ipagpahayag mo ang mapalad na mga pangalan ng Panginoon: ang Matatag, ang Mapagbigay-galak, ang Pari ng handog, ang Tagapangalaga, ang Lumilikha ng sanlibutan, ang Banal na Apoy, ang Walang-buhok, at ang May-buhol na buhok.”
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.