Shloka 22

Viśveśvara-māhātmya and the Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Emergence of Śiva (Śakti–Puruṣa/Prakṛti Discourse)

Devanagari script

इति श्रीशिवमहापुराणे चतुर्थ्यां कोटिरुद्रसंहितायां विश्वेश्वरमाहात्म्ये काश्यां रुद्रागमनवर्णनंनाम द्वाविंशोऽध्यायः

Transliteration

iti śrīśivamahāpurāṇe caturthyāṃ koṭirudrasaṃhitāyāṃ viśveśvaramāhātmye kāśyāṃ rudrāgamanavarṇanaṃnāma dvāviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ ശ്രീശിവമഹാപുരാണത്തിലെ നാലാം കോടിരുദ്രസംഹിതയിലെ വിശ്വേശ്വരമാഹാത്മ്യത്തിൽ ‘കാശിയിൽ രുദ്രാഗമനവർണ്ണനം’ എന്ന പേരിലുള്ള ഇരുപത്തിരണ്ടാം അധ്യായം സമാപ്തമായി.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: समाप्तिसूचक अव्यय; colophon marker

• श्रीशिवमहापुराणे: in the Śrī Śiva Mahāpurāṇa
• श्रीशिवमहापुराणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-शिव-महा-पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (title compound)

• चतुर्थ्याम्: in the fourth (section)
• चतुर्थ्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Feminine, Locative, Singular (agreeing with saṃhitāyām understood)

• कोटिरुद्रसंहितायाम्: in the Koṭirudra-saṃhitā
• कोटिरुद्रसंहितायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि-रुद्र-संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Feminine, Locative, Singular; (कोटिरुद्रस्य संहिता) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• विश्वेश्वरमाहात्म्ये: in the (section on) the greatness of Viśveśvara
• विश्वेश्वरमाहात्म्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वेश्वर-माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular; (विश्वेश्वरस्य माहात्म्यम्) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• काश्याम्: in Kāśī
• काश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Feminine, Locative, Singular

• रुद्रागमनवर्णनंनाम: (entitled) ‘Description of Rudra’s arrival’
• रुद्रागमनवर्णनंनाम: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र-आगमन-वर्णन-नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Neuter, Nominative, Singular; शीर्षक-समास: (रुद्रस्य आगमनस्य वर्णनम्) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; नाम (indeclinable-like usage as title marker)

• द्वाविंशः: twenty-second
• द्वाविंशः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वा-विंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular (agreeing with adhyāyaḥ); numeral compound (22nd)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (traditional Purāṇic narrator concluding the chapter to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Colophon situating the narrative within Viśveśvara Māhātmya: the chapter’s subject is Rudra’s arrival in Kāśī, grounding the kṣetra’s sanctity in Śiva’s direct presence (nitya-sannidhi).

Significance: Textual framing used in recitation (pārāyaṇa) to accrue merit and reinforce Kāśī’s status as a mokṣa-kṣetra centered on Viśveśvara.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Rudra)
• Vishveshvara
• Kashi (Varanasi)

FAQs

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

This is a colophon marking the completion of a chapter in the Koṭirudra Saṃhitā, emphasizing the sanctity of Kāśī and the glory (māhātmya) of Viśveśvara—Shiva as the liberating Lord whose presence makes Kāśī a foremost place for mokṣa-oriented devotion.

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

By naming “Viśveśvara Māhātmya,” it points to Saguna Shiva worship centered on the Viśveśvara Liṅga (Jyotirliṅga tradition), where devotees approach Shiva through a concrete, worshipable form while seeking His supreme, transcendent grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As a chapter-ending marker for Viśveśvara’s glory in Kāśī, the practical takeaway is Liṅga-pūjā with pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with traditional Śaiva observances such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa, especially when undertaking Kāśī-yātrā or Mahāśivarātri worship.