Shloka 61
महादेव उवाच । त्वया मान्यो विष्णुरसौ तथा शतधृतिः स्वयम् । कपालम्वैधसम्वापि नीललोहित धारय
mahādeva uvāca | tvayā mānyo viṣṇurasau tathā śatadhṛtiḥ svayam | kapālamvaidhasamvāpi nīlalohita dhāraya
Mahādeva said: “You must honor that very Viṣṇu, and also Śatadhṛti (Brahmā) himself. And, O Nīlalohita, you should also bear the skull that belongs to Vaidhasa (Brahmā).”}]}
Lord Shiva (Mahadeva)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Kaṅkālamūrti
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī is upheld as Śiva’s own city where even Kāla and pāśas lose jurisdiction; the verse participates in the Kapāla-vrata narrative that culminates in Kāśī’s mokṣa-bestowing exceptionality.
Significance: Darśana/śravaṇa of Kāśī-viśeṣa and Viśveśvara is framed as overriding ordinary karmic jurisdiction, preparing the ground for immediate liberation in later verses.
FAQs
The verse teaches Shaiva dharma through humility and right-order devotion: even in Shiva’s supreme status, Mahadeva instructs respect toward Vishnu and Brahma, showing that true spiritual authority expresses itself as honoring cosmic functions while remaining established in Shiva as the highest Pati (Lord).
As Saguna Shiva (Mahadeva/Nīlalohita) speaks and gives concrete instructions, the verse supports devotional worship where Shiva’s forms guide conduct. Honoring Vishnu and Brahma aligns with Linga worship’s integrative vision: all divine powers are harmonized under Shiva’s lordship rather than opposed.
While not prescribing a specific rite like Tripuṇḍra or Rudrākṣa, it implies a meditative discipline of humility and reverence—maintaining respectful conduct toward all manifestations of divine order, alongside focused devotion to Shiva (often expressed through mantra-japa such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).