देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च
विश्वगोप्ता विश्वभर्ता सुधीरो रुचिराङ्गदः जननो जनजन्मादिः प्रीतिमान्नीतिमान्नयः
viśvagoptā viśvabhartā sudhīro rucirāṅgadaḥ janano janajanmādiḥ prītimānnītimānnayaḥ
Ia pelindung semesta dan penopang semesta; Mahabijaksana, berhias gelang lengan yang indah. Ia Sang Bapa—awal mula kelahiran makhluk; penuh kasih, teguh dalam dharma dan tata-aturan, serta penuntun jiwa di jalan benar.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Sahasranama to the sages of Naimisharanya)
By naming Shiva as viśvagoptā and viśvabhartā, the verse frames Linga-puja as worship of the Pati who protects and sustains all worlds—making the Linga the universal refuge and support for the devotee.
It presents Shiva as the causal source of embodied existence (janano, janajanmādiḥ) and also as the compassionate governor of dharma (prītimān, nītimān), who guides the pashu (individual soul) toward the right path (nayaḥ) beyond pasha (bondage).
The verse primarily supports contemplative japa/dhyana on the Sahasranama: meditating on Shiva as the inner guide (nayaḥ) aligns conduct (nīti) and supports the Pashupata aim of moving from bondage (pāśa) to liberation under the Lord (pati).