मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta
विद्येश्वरं द्विसाहस्रं रौद्रं पञ्चशतायुतम् । त्रिंशत्तथा द्विसाहस्रं सार्धैकशतमीरितम्
vidyeśvaraṃ dvisāhasraṃ raudraṃ pañcaśatāyutam | triṃśattathā dvisāhasraṃ sārdhaikaśatamīritam
ส่วน ‘วิทยेशวร’ กล่าวว่ามีสองพัน (โศลก); ส่วน ‘เราทระ’ มีห้าหมื่น และทำนองเดียวกัน ได้ประกาศว่า (ส่วนที่เหลือ) มีสามหมื่นสองพัน และอีกหนึ่งร้อยห้าสิบ
Suta Goswami
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: A numerical colophon-like statement giving verse-counts of major portions (Vidyeśvara, Raudra, etc.), not tied to a specific sacred site narrative.
It frames the Purana as a deliberately arranged śāstra: different sections carry different emphases—devotion, worship-methods, and higher teaching—guiding the bound soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) through graded instruction.
By naming the Vidyeśvara and Raudra divisions, it points readers to the portions where Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā, mantra, and observances—is systematized and taught as a means to grace (anugraha).
The verse itself is an enumeration, but it implicitly directs seekers to study the Vidyeśvara/Raudra teachings where practices like Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), and Rudrākṣa discipline are prescribed.