Shloka 4

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । मुनौ यदृच्छया विष्णुर्गते तस्मिन्हि नारदे । शिवेच्छया चकाराशु माया मायाविशारदः

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | munau yadṛcchayā viṣṇurgate tasminhi nārade | śivecchayā cakārāśu māyā māyāviśāradaḥ

Translation

Sūta said: When Nārada had thus departed, by mere chance, to the sage Viṣṇu (Brahmā), Viṣṇu—skilled in the workings of māyā—swiftly fashioned an illusion, in accordance with Śiva’s will.

Word by Word

सूतःSūta

उवाचsaid

मुनौwhen/while the sage (was)

यदृच्छयाby chance

विष्णुःViṣṇu

गतेhaving gone (when he had departed)

तस्मिन्in that (time/condition)

हिindeed

नारदे(in the case of) Nārada

शिव-इच्छयाby Śiva’s will

चकारmade, created, performed

आशुquickly

मायाम्illusion, māyā

माया-विशारदःskilled in māyā

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

Shiva

Vishnu

Narada

FAQs

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

It teaches that māyā is not supreme; it operates under the Lord’s governance—here, even Viṣṇu’s illusory power functions according to Śiva’s will, affirming Śiva as Pati (the supreme controller).

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

By showing Śiva as the one whose will directs cosmic functions, the verse supports Saguna Śiva worship (including Liṅga worship) as devotion to the sovereign Lord who alone can lift the veils of māyā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with devotion, as a means to pierce māyā and align the mind with Śiva’s grace.