Shloka 3
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
भीष्म उवाच अशक्तोडहं गुणान् वक्तुं महादेवस्य धीमतः । यो हि सर्वगतो देवो न च सर्वत्र दृश्यते
bhīṣma uvāca: aśakto 'haṃ guṇān vaktuṃ mahādevasya dhīmataḥ | yo hi sarvagato devo na ca sarvatra dṛśyate ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: “Hindi ko kayang ilarawan nang ganap ang mga katangian ng marunong na Mahādeva. Sapagkat siya ang diyos na sumasaklaw sa lahat, at gayunman ay hindi nakikita sa bawat dako.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a theological paradox: Mahādeva is immanent (present everywhere) yet transcendent (not graspable by ordinary perception). It also models humility—Bhīṣma admits the limits of speech when describing the divine.
Bhīṣma begins a praise or exposition concerning Mahādeva, but first states his inability to adequately describe Śiva’s qualities, emphasizing Śiva’s all-pervading nature and invisibility to common sight.