Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 195

Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ

Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony

Devanagari script

ऐश्वर्य सकल॑ यस्मादनुत्पादितमव्ययम्‌ | अबीजाद्‌ बीजसम्भूतं वरं तस्माद्‌ वृणीमहे

Transliteration

aiśvaryaṃ sakalaṃ yasmād anutpāditam avyayam | abījād bījasambhūtaṃ varaṃ tasmād vṛṇīmahe ||

Translation

释迦罗（因陀罗）说道：“一切主权与威德皆由彼而生——不由造作，不坏不竭。由无种之本源，生出一切‘由种而生’之物。故我等择从彼大自在天求取恩赐。”

Word by Word

• ऐश्वर्यम्: sovereignty, lordly power
• ऐश्वर्यम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• सकलम्: entire, all
• सकलम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• यस्मात्: from whom/which
• यस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• अनुत्पादितम्: not produced, uncreated
• अनुत्पादितम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्पादित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अव्ययम्: imperishable, undecaying
• अव्ययम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अबीजात्: from the seedless (source)
• अबीजात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अबीज
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• बीजसम्भूतम्: arisen from seed; having seed-origin
• बीजसम्भूतम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बीज-सम्भूत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• वरम्: boon
• वरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तस्मात्: from him/therefore (from that one)
• तस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• वृणीमहे: we choose, we seek (as a boon)
• वृणीमहे: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (वृणीते)
• Form: Present, First, Plural, Atmanepada

Speaker

शक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• Mahādeva (Śiva) (implied as the seedless source of all causes)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

All worldly and cosmic power is portrayed as deriving from an uncreated, imperishable source (Mahādeva). Recognizing this, one should approach power with humility and devotion, seeking rightful boons through reverence rather than claiming autonomy or pride.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śakra (Indra), speaking in praise, identifies Mahādeva as the causeless origin from whom all caused things arise, and on that basis declares that they will ask him for a boon—framing the request as grounded in recognition of Mahādeva’s supreme status.