Shloka 38

Devanagari script

हे विष्णो हे विधे त्वं हि त्रिलोकाधिपतिर्ध्रुवम् । सर्वसम्राट्प्रकारं मे कर्तुमर्हसि यत्नतः

Transliteration

he viṣṇo he vidhe tvaṃ hi trilokādhipatirdhruvam | sarvasamrāṭprakāraṃ me kartumarhasi yatnataḥ

Translation

O Vishnu! O Vidhātṛ (Brahmā), you are indeed the steadfast lord of the three worlds. Therefore, with due effort, establish for me the full order and rank of universal sovereignty.

Word by Word

• he: O!
• he: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: he (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), vocative particle (सम्बोधन)

• viṣṇo: O Viṣṇu
• viṣṇo: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• he: O!
• he: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: he (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), vocative particle (सम्बोधन)

• vidhe: O Vidhā (Brahmā)
• vidhe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhātṛ/vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• hi: indeed, surely
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निश्चय/हेतु)

• tri-loka-adhipatiḥ: lord of the three worlds
• tri-loka-adhipatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘त्रिलोकानाम् अधिपतिः’

• dhruvam: certainly
• dhruvam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (निश्चयार्थक) used predicatively

• sarva-samrāṭ-prakāram: the manner/arrangement of universal sovereignty
• sarva-samrāṭ-prakāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + samrāṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + prakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (determinative) ‘सर्वेषां सम्राजां प्रकारम्’ / ‘सर्वसम्राट्-सम्बद्धं प्रकारम्’ (intended: universal sovereign arrangement)

• me: for me / my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (enclitic)

• kartum: to do, to make
• kartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Infinitive (तुमुन्), avyaya

• arhasi: you are able/fit; you should
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• yatnataḥ: with effort, diligently
• yatnataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverbial ablative (पञ्चमी-अर्थे)

Speaker

A battlefield petitioner/king addressing Vishnu and Brahma (as narrated within Suta Goswami’s discourse in the Rudrasaṃhitā, Yuddhakhaṇḍa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights the tension between worldly sovereignty and true lordship: even when one seeks universal rule, the Shiva Purana ultimately frames such power as secondary to Pati (Śiva), the supreme Lord beyond the three worlds.

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

By showing dependence on cosmic administrators (Vishnu and Brahma) for worldly order, it implicitly points to the higher Shaiva view that lasting refuge is in Saguna Shiva—worshiped as the Linga—who transcends and regulates the functions of creation and preservation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to replace anxiety for power with dharmic intention and Shaiva remembrance—japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and offering bhasma/tripuṇḍra as a daily reminder that sovereignty is impermanent while Śiva is eternal.