Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33

मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta

Devanagari script

तदा विद्यासमासार्थं विश्वेश्वरनियोगतः । द्वापरांतेषु विश्वात्मा विष्णुर्विश्वंभरः प्रभुः

Transliteration

tadā vidyāsamāsārthaṃ viśveśvaraniyogataḥ | dvāparāṃteṣu viśvātmā viṣṇurviśvaṃbharaḥ prabhuḥ

Translation

Da erging auf Geheiß Viśveśvaras (des Herrn Śiva) der Auftrag, das heilige Wissen zusammenzufassen und zu bewahren; am Ende des Dvāpara-Zeitalters nahm ihn Herr Viṣṇu auf sich — das innere Selbst des Universums und Erhalter der Welten.

Word by Word

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• vidyā-samāsa-artham: for the purpose of summarizing the knowledge
• vidyā-samāsa-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + samāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); प्रयोजनार्थे (accusative of purpose)

• viśva-īśvara-niyogataḥ: by/from the command of the Lord of the universe
• viśva-īśvara-niyogataḥ: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + niyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• dvāpara-anteṣu: at the ends of the Dvāpara (yugas)
• dvāpara-anteṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvāpara (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• viśva-ātmā: the one whose self is the universe
• viśva-ātmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• viśvam-bharaḥ: supporter of the universe
• viśvam-bharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• prabhuḥ: the Lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha as the Lord of the universe who commands the preservation and right transmission of dharma; here His ‘niyoga’ (commission) to Viṣṇu functions as a purāṇic archetype for safeguarding śāstra in yuga-transitions.

Significance: Darśana of Viśvanātha is held to grant purification and steadiness in dharma; in this verse’s thematic frame, it signifies Śiva’s grace ensuring accessible revelation for beings in declining yugas.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: yuga-sandhi: end of Dvāpara (transition toward Kali)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It shows that the protection and right transmission of spiritual knowledge across yugas happens under Śiva (Viśveśvara) as the supreme regulator (Pati), even when other deities act as agents for maintaining dharma.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By calling Śiva “Viśveśvara,” the verse affirms a Saguna form of Śiva as the sovereign Lord who directs cosmic functions; Linga-worship is devotion to that same Lord as the highest controller behind all divine roles.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is faithful study and recitation of Śaiva scripture as a sādhana, supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and disciplined preservation of teachings through regular svādhyāya.