Shloka 39
Viśveśvara-māhātmya and the Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Emergence of Śiva (Śakti–Puruṣa/Prakṛti Discourse)
सूत उवाच । इत्येवं प्रार्थितस्तेन विश्वनाथेन शंकरः । लोकानामुपकारार्थं तस्थौ तत्रापि सर्वराट्
sūta uvāca | ityevaṃ prārthitastena viśvanāthena śaṃkaraḥ | lokānāmupakārārthaṃ tasthau tatrāpi sarvarāṭ
قال سوتا: هكذا، لما ابتهل إليه فيشڤاناثا، أقام شَنْكَرَا—الملكُ الأعلى، سيّدُ الجميع—هناك أيضًا، ابتغاءَ نفعِ العوالم ورفعتها.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Sūta narrates that, being entreated, Śaṅkara ‘remained there’ for lokānām upakāra—an etiological statement for Viśvanātha’s abiding presence in Kāśī as a perpetual source of grace.
Significance: Frames the jyotirliṅga’s significance as Śiva’s voluntary, compassionate ‘staying’ (sthitī) for the uplift of worlds—pilgrimage becomes encounter with a deliberately accessible Lord.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights Shiva’s loka-anugraha (grace to the worlds): when sincerely invoked, the Lord abides in a sacred form and place to uplift devotees, protect dharma, and make liberation-oriented worship accessible.
In the Kotirudrasaṁhitā context of Jyotirlinga glory, Shiva’s “remaining there” indicates Saguna-anugraha—Shiva accepting a worshipable presence (Linga/kshetra) so devotees can approach the Nirguna Supreme through a sanctified form.
The takeaway is steadfast bhakti at a Jyotirlinga/kshetra: regular darśana, Linga-abhisheka, and japa with “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” performed with the intention of loka-kalyāṇa and inner purification.