Shloka 194
Adhyāya 284: Tapas as a Corrective to Household Attachment
Parāśara’s Instruction
जैसे भगवान् शिव सब देवताओंमें श्रेष्ठ हैं, उसी प्रकार यह वेदतुल्य स्तोत्र सभी स्तुतियोंमें श्रेष्ठ है ।। यशोराज्यसुखैश्वर्यकामार्थधनकांक्षिभि: | श्रोतव्यो भक्तिमास्थाय विद्याकामैश्ष यत्नतः
yathā bhagavān śivaḥ sarvadevatāsu śreṣṭhaḥ, tathā idaṃ vedatulyaṃ stotraṃ sarvastutīṣu śreṣṭham || yaśorājyasukhaiśvaryakāmārthadhanākāṅkṣibhiḥ | śrotavyaṃ bhaktim āsthāya vidyākāmaiś ca yatnataḥ ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Kung paanong ang Mapalad na Panginoong Śiva ay itinuturing na pinakapanguna sa lahat ng mga diyos, gayon din ang himnong ito—kasingbanal ng Veda—ang pinakapanguna sa lahat ng mga papuri. Kaya yaong naghahangad ng dangal, paghahari, ligaya, kapangyarihan, katuparan ng ninanais, pakinabang at yaman, at yaong naghahangad ng kaalaman, ay makinig dito nang may debosyon at masikap na pagsisikap.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that a truly authoritative hymn—likened to the Veda—should be approached through devoted listening. Such devotional receptivity is presented as a dharmic means that supports both worldly aims (fame, sovereignty, prosperity) and higher aims (knowledge).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction setting, Bhīṣma is recommending and extolling a particular Śiva-stotra, declaring it supreme among praises and urging various seekers—of success, wealth, and learning—to listen to it with devotion and diligence.