Shloka 39

Viśveśvara-māhātmya and the Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Emergence of Śiva (Śakti–Puruṣa/Prakṛti Discourse)

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । इत्येवं प्रार्थितस्तेन विश्वनाथेन शंकरः । लोकानामुपकारार्थं तस्थौ तत्रापि सर्वराट्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | ityevaṃ prārthitastena viśvanāthena śaṃkaraḥ | lokānāmupakārārthaṃ tasthau tatrāpi sarvarāṭ

Translation

Sūta said: Thus entreated by Viśvanātha, Śaṅkara—the sovereign Lord of all—remained there as well, for the welfare and upliftment of the worlds.

Word by Word

सूतःSūta

उवाचsaid

इतिthus

एवम्in this manner

प्रार्थितःhaving been entreated

तेनby him

विश्व-नाथेनby Viśvanātha (Lord of the universe)

शंकरःŚaṅkara

लोकानाम्for the worlds/people

उपकार-अर्थम्for the sake of benefit

तस्थौstood / remained

तत्रthere

अपिalso

सर्व-राट्the sovereign of all

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

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.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

Shiva

Shankara

Vishvanatha

FAQs

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

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.

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

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.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

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.