Shloka 138
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
कृतवान् यानि रूपाणि कथितानि दिवौकसै:
kṛtavān yāni rūpāṇi kathitāni divaukasaḥ | vatsa! brāhmaṇānām anugrahārthaṃ devair yāni yāni rūpāṇi gṛhītāni, tāni saṅkṣepataḥ śṛṇu | vatsa! tvaṃ mattaḥ yat kiñcid pṛcchasi, tāḥ sarvāḥ kathāḥ ahaṃ te vakṣyāmi ||
Vāsudeva nói: “Hỡi con yêu, hãy nghe vắn tắt về những hình tướng khác nhau mà chư thiên đã thuật lại—những hình tướng Ngài đã mang để ban ân cho các brāhmaṇa. Điều gì con đang hỏi ta, ta sẽ nói cho con tất cả.”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes reverence and benevolence toward brāhmaṇas as a dharmic priority, presenting divine ‘forms’ and interventions as motivated by anugraha (grace) and protection of those who uphold sacred learning and ritual order.
Vāsudeva addresses the listener affectionately as ‘vatsa,’ promising a concise account of the various forms described by the gods and assuring that he will answer fully whatever questions are being asked.