Shloka 55
देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras
विष्णुरुवाच । देवदेव महादेव करुणाकर शंकर । यदुक्तं ब्रह्मणा सर्वं मदुक्तं तन्न संशयः
viṣṇuruvāca | devadeva mahādeva karuṇākara śaṃkara | yaduktaṃ brahmaṇā sarvaṃ maduktaṃ tanna saṃśayaḥ
Viṣṇu sprach: „O Gott der Götter, o Mahādeva, o Śaṅkara, Quell des Erbarmens! Alles, was Brahmā vollständig gesprochen hat, ist eben das, was auch ich gesprochen habe; daran besteht kein Zweifel.“
Vishnu
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it is a doctrinal concord statement: Brahmā and Viṣṇu’s words align in praising/acknowledging Śiva as Devadeva and Karuṇākara.
Significance: Encourages non-sectarian reverence: the highest authorities (Brahmā, Viṣṇu) converge in testimony to Śiva’s supremacy/beneficence, strengthening śraddhā for darśana and worship.
Mantra: devadeva mahādeva karuṇākara śaṃkara
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It establishes concord among the deities: Viṣṇu declares that Brahmā’s words and his own are identical, pointing to one settled truth—Śiva (Pati) is the compassionate supreme Lord worthy of devotion and surrender.
By addressing Śiva as Devadeva, Mahādeva, and Śaṅkara, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching the Supreme through His gracious, name-and-form aspect, which in Purāṇic practice is commonly adored as the Śiva-liṅga.
The takeaway is devotional alignment: worship Śiva with steady faith (niścaya) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with simple Śiva-upacāras such as offering water and sacred ash (tripuṇḍra/bhasma) in a spirit of reverence.