Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 283

Devanagari script

महेश्वरक्ष लोकानां महतामीश्वरश्ष सः । समस्त कामनाओंके अधीश्वर होनेके कारण उन्हें “ईश्वर कहते हैं और महान्‌ लोकोंके ईश्वर होनेके कारण उनका नाम “महेश्वर' हुआ है

Transliteration

maheśvaraḥ lokānāṁ mahatām īśvaraś ca saḥ |

Translation

风神伐由说道：他被称为“自在天”（Īśvara），因为他是统御一切欲望及其成就的至上主宰；又因他为广大世界与崇高众生之主，故名“大自在天”（Maheśvara）。

Word by Word

• महेश्वरः: Maheshvara (the Great Lord)
• महेश्वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds
• लोकानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• महताम्: of the great (ones)
• महताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• ईश्वरः: lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Īśvara

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse explains the ethical-theological basis of divine titles: ‘Īśvara’ denotes mastery over all desires and their outcomes, while ‘Maheśvara’ denotes supreme lordship over the great worlds and exalted beings—highlighting ultimate sovereignty as the ground for reverence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is describing and justifying the names of Śiva, clarifying why he is addressed as Īśvara and Maheśvara within the discourse of Anuśāsana Parva.