Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40
लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा-माहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of Liṅga Installation
तथैव भगवान् विष्णुः श्रांतः संविग्नलोचनः
tathaiva bhagavān viṣṇuḥ śrāṃtaḥ saṃvignalocanaḥ
അതുപോലെ ഭഗവാൻ വിഷ്ണുവും ക്ഷീണിച്ചു; അവന്റെ കണ്ണുകൾ വ്യാകുലതകൊണ്ട് കലങ്ങിയിരുന്നു.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava
Sthala Purana: Viṣṇu’s fatigue signifies the limit of deva-capacity before the infinite Liṅga; the narrative prepares the turn from effort (prayatna) to receptivity to grace (anugraha).
Significance: Teaches that pilgrimage and worship culminate not in conquest of the divine by intellect, but in softened ego and readiness for Śiva’s revelation.
FAQs
It underscores that even exalted deities like Viṣṇu can become strained within the bounds of cosmic function, pointing to the Shaiva Siddhanta view that only Pati (Śiva) is the ultimate, unfettered Lord beyond limitation.
By showing the limits of even great gods in narrative time, the text implicitly directs the seeker toward taking refuge in Śiva as Saguna (approachable through Linga-worship) who grants steadiness, protection, and liberation.
As an antidote to agitation and fatigue, the practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Śiva-dhyāna; if aligned with Shiva Purana practice, support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to composure and devotion.