Shloka 73
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
तोषयित्वा शुभान् कामान् प्राप्तवन्तो जनार्दन । जनार्दन! यहाँ सुरश्रेष्ठ महादेवजीको तपस्या
vāsudeva uvāca | toṣayitvā śubhān kāmān prāptavanto janārdana | janārdana! iha suraśreṣṭha-mahādevajīṃ tapasā brahmacaryeṇa satyena indriya-saṃyamena ca santoṣya pūrvaṃ bahavo devā maharṣayaś ca sva-śubhāṃś ca manorathān prāptavantaḥ || meru-kampanaḥ hiraṇyakaśipur nāma dānavaḥ pūrvam abhūt | tena śarvāt sarvāmara-aiśvaryaṃ samārbudam (daśa-koṭi-varṣāṇi) prāptam ||
婆苏提婆说道：“迦那尔达那啊，昔日就在此处，许多天神与大圣仙以苦行、梵行、真实与制御诸根，使诸神之最——大天摩诃提婆——心生欢喜，遂得其吉祥所愿。确然，那能令须弥山亦为之震动的阿修罗希兰尼亚迦湿布，曾从舍婆（湿婆）处获得诸天一切的主权与荣光，历一‘阿尔布达’之久——十俱胝年。”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Auspicious aims are achieved by disciplined virtues—tapas (austerity), brahmacarya (regulated celibate conduct), satya (truth), and indriya-saṃyama (sense-restraint). The passage underscores that spiritual power and even extraordinary boons are linked to ethical self-mastery and sustained discipline.
Vāsudeva addresses Janārdana and cites precedents: many gods and sages previously pleased Mahādeva through ascetic virtues and gained their desired ends. As a striking example, he mentions the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu, famed for shaking Meru, who obtained from Śiva the sovereignty of the gods for an immense duration (an arbuda, explained as ten crores of years).