Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 11
(यह मन्त्र इस प्रकार है--) महान् व्रतधारी वसिष्ठको नमस्कार है
bhīṣma uvāca—(ayaṃ mantraḥ evaṃvidhaḥ)—mahān vratadhārī vasiṣṭhaḥ namaskāryaḥ; vedanidhiḥ parāśaraḥ namaskāryaḥ; viśāla-sarpa-rūpa-dhārī anantaḥ (śeṣanāgaḥ) namaskāryaḥ; akṣayāḥ siddhagaṇāḥ namaskāryāḥ; ṛṣivṛndaṃ namaskāryam; tathā parātparaḥ devādhidevaḥ varadātā parameśvaraḥ namaskāryaḥ; sahasra-mastakaḥ śivaḥ namaskāryaḥ; sahasra-nāma-dhārī bhagavān janārdanaś ca namaskāryaḥ.
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Ganito inuusal ang mantra: Pagpupugay kay Vasiṣṭha, ang dakilang tagapagdala ng panata; pagpupugay kay Parāśara, sisidlan ng karunungang Veda; pagpupugay kay Ananta (Śeṣa), na may anyong dambuhalang ahas; pagpupugay sa mga Siddha na di-nasisira; pagpupugay sa kalipunan ng mga rishi. Pagpupugay din sa Kataas-taasang lampas sa lahat ng kataasan, sa Diyos ng mga diyos, sa tagapagkaloob ng biyaya, sa Panginoon ng lahat. Pagpupugay kay Śiva na may sanlibong ulo, at kay Janārdana, ang Panginoong may sanlibong pangalan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models dhārmic devotion through humility and reverence: one begins sacred practice by honoring realized sages, perfected beings, and the Supreme Lord. It also conveys an inclusive vision in which Śiva and Janārdana are both praised as cosmic, supreme manifestations.
Bhīṣma is reciting the wording of a mantra. The mantra is a sequence of salutations (namaskāras) addressed to eminent ṛṣis (Vasiṣṭha, Parāśara), cosmic beings (Ananta/Śeṣa, Siddhas), the community of seers, and finally to the supreme divinity—explicitly invoking both Śiva and Janārdana.