Shloka 80
Aṣṭāvakra’s Visit to Kubera: Hospitality, Temptation, and the Ethics of Restraint (अष्टावक्र-वैश्रवणोपाख्यानम्)
ऋषि-मुनि तपस्याद्वारा जिसका अन्वेषण करते हैं, उस सदा स्थिर रहनेवाले अनिर्वचनीय परम सूक्ष्म तत्त्वस्वरूप सदाशिवको मैं जीवन-रक्षाके लिये नमस्कार करता हूँ। जिन अविनाशी प्रभुकी मेरे द्वारा सदा ही स्तुति की गयी है, वे महादेव यहाँ मुझे अभीष्ट वरदान दें ।।
vāyudeva uvāca | ṛṣi-muni-tapasyā-dvārā yasyānveṣaṇaṃ kriyate taṃ sadā-sthiraṃ anirvacanīyaṃ parama-sūkṣma-tattva-svarūpaṃ sadāśivaṃ jīvana-rakṣārthaṃ namasyāmi | yasya avināśinaḥ prabhoḥ mayā sadā stutiḥ kṛtā, sa mahādeva iha mām adya īpsitaṃ varadānaṃ dadātu || imaṃ stavaṃ saṃniyatendriyaś ca bhūtvā śucir yaḥ puruṣaḥ paṭhet | abhagna-yogo niyato māsam ekaṃ sa aśvamedha-phalaṃ samāpnuyāt ||
Wika ni Vāyu: “Para sa pag-iingat ng buhay, yumuyuko ako kay Sadāśiva—ang laging matatag, di-maipaliwanag, sukdulang banayad, at mismong diwa ng Katotohanan—na hinahanap ng mga ṛṣi at mga muni sa pamamagitan ng pag-aayuno at pagninilay. Nawa’y ang di-nasisirang Panginoon na lagi kong pinupuri—si Mahādeva mismo—ay magbigay sa akin dito at ngayon ng biyayang aking ninanais. Sinumang pumigil sa mga pandama, nagpakadalisay, at bumigkas ng himnong ito, at sa disiplinadong pagtitiyaga’y ipagpatuloy ang pagsasanay nang walang patid sa loob ng isang buong buwan, ay makakamit ang kabutihang-kapantay ng handog na Aśvamedha.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates disciplined devotion: restraining the senses, cultivating purity, and maintaining uninterrupted practice are presented as spiritually potent—so potent that sustained recitation of a Śiva-hymn for a month is said to yield merit comparable to a grand royal sacrifice.
Vāyu addresses Śiva in prayer, saluting him as the subtle, indescribable, ever-stable reality sought by ascetics, requesting a desired boon, and then declaring the promised fruit for anyone who recites this stotra with self-control and steady observance for one month.