Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

शङ्खचूडदूतागमनम् — The Arrival of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Envoy

and Praise of Śiva

Devanagari script

विश्वनाथं विश्वबीजं विश्वरूपं च विश्वजम् । विश्वंभरं विश्वकरं विश्वसंहारकारणम्

Transliteration

viśvanāthaṃ viśvabījaṃ viśvarūpaṃ ca viśvajam | viśvaṃbharaṃ viśvakaraṃ viśvasaṃhārakāraṇam

Translation

Me inclino ante Viśvanātha, Señor del universo: semilla de toda creación, cuya forma es el universo y que nace como universo; sustentador del cosmos, hacedor de todo y causa misma de la disolución del mundo.

Word by Word

• viśva-nātham: Lord of the universe
• viśva-nātham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva + nātha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विश्वस्य नाथः = lord of the universe), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• viśva-bījam: seed of the universe
• viśva-bījam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva + bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विश्वस्य बीजम् = seed/cause of the universe), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• viśva-rūpam: of universal form
• viśva-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśva + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (विश्वं रूपं यस्य = whose form is the universe / universal-formed), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• viśva-jam: universe-born / universe-producing
• viśva-jam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśva + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विश्वात् जायते = born from the universe / producing the universe; contextually 'universe-born'/'universe-producing'), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• viśvaṃ-bharam: sustainer of the universe
• viśvaṃ-bharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśvam + bhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विश्वं भरति = bearer/sustainer of the universe), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• viśva-karam: creator of the universe
• viśva-karam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśva + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विश्वं करोति = maker of the universe), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• viśva-saṃhāra-kāraṇam: cause of the universe's dissolution
• viśva-saṃhāra-kāraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva + saṃhāra + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विश्वस्य संहारस्य कारणम् = cause of the dissolution of the universe), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī is proclaimed the imperishable kṣetra where Śiva as Viśvanātha grants taraka-upadeśa at death; the liṅga signifies Śiva as Lord of the universe and the inner ruler of all worlds.

Significance: Darśana of Viśvanātha is held to confer viśveśvaratva-bhāva (sense of Śiva’s all-pervasion), remove fear of death, and support liberation through Śiva’s grace in Kāśī.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: viśvanāthaṃ viśvabījaṃ viśvarūpaṃ ca viśvajam | viśvaṃbharaṃ viśvakaraṃ viśvasaṃhārakāraṇam

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Implied cyclic cosmology: Śiva as seed (sṛṣṭi), sustainer (sthiti), and cause of dissolution (saṃhāra).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse praises Shiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who manifests as the cosmos, sustains it, and withdraws it—teaching that all change rests in Him, and liberation comes through devotion and right knowledge of His lordship.

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

Though Shiva is beyond attributes (Nirguna), devotees approach Him as Saguna Viśvanātha; the Linga is worshiped as the cosmic sign of that same Lord who is the source, support, and dissolution of the universe.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the inner cause of creation–sustenance–dissolution while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); in ritual worship, offer water and bilva to the Linga with this contemplation.