Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 137
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
हृदिस्थ: सर्वभूतानां विश्वरूपो महेश्वर: । भक्तानामनुकम्पार्थ दर्शनं च यथाश्रुतम्
hṛdisthaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ viśvarūpo maheśvaraḥ | bhaktānām anukampārthaṃ darśanaṃ ca yathāśrutam ||
婆苏提婆曰：“大自在天摩醯首罗（Maheśvara），以宇宙为其形，安住于一切众生之心。为怜悯其信徒，祂赐与他们得见圣容——正如圣传所闻、代代相承。”
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The Supreme Lord is both immanent and universal—present within the heart of every being and encompassing all as His cosmic form. Divine revelation (darśana) is not arbitrary; it is granted out of compassion to devotees, aligning with what is affirmed by sacred tradition (yathāśrutam).
Vāsudeva is explaining the nature of the Lord to his listener(s): the deity is inwardly present in all creatures and, when devotees seek Him with faith, He mercifully allows them a direct experience or vision, consistent with what has been transmitted in authoritative teachings.