Shiva Purana — Satarudra Samhita, Shloka 57

दुर्वाससः तपः-प्रभावः तथा देवाः ब्रह्म-विष्ण्वोः शरणागमनम् | Durvāsā’s Tapas and the Devas’ Appeal to Brahmā and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मप्रार्थनया विष्णुर्वसुदेवसुतोऽभवत् । धराभारावतारार्थं साधूनां रक्षणाय च

Transliteration

brahmaprārthanayā viṣṇurvasudevasuto'bhavat | dharābhārāvatārārthaṃ sādhūnāṃ rakṣaṇāya ca

Translation

因梵天（Brahmā）的祈请，毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）成为婆苏提婆（Vasudeva）之子；为解除大地之重负，并护持诸善人而降世。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मप्रार्थनया: by Brahmā’s prayer
• ब्रह्मप्रार्थनया: Hetu/Karaṇa (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-प्रार्थना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः प्रार्थना)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (sg.)

• वसुदेवसुतः: son of Vasudeva
• वसुदेवसुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुदेव-सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वसुदेवस्य सुतः)

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• धराभारावतारार्थम्: for the purpose of the descent to remove Earth’s burden
• धराभारावतारार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरा-भार-अवतार-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/नपुंसकलिङ्गवत् प्रयोगः, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला (धरायाः भारः; तस्य अवतारः; तस्य अर्थः)

• साधूनाम्: of the righteous
• साधूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (pl.)

• रक्षणाय: for protection
• रक्षणाय: Sampradana/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन (sg.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: avatāra for dharā-bhāra-haraṇa (cosmic rebalancing)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Vasudeva

FAQs

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

It presents divine order: when adharma increases, the cosmic powers respond through a purposeful descent to restore balance and protect the sādhus, under the overarching sovereignty of Śiva-tattva in the Purāṇa’s Shaiva vision.

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

By showing how even great deities act through divine mandate, it directs the devotee to the supreme refuge—Śiva worship (often through the Liṅga as Saguna focus)—as the stable center behind changing cosmic roles and incarnations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate dharma-restoration while doing japa of Śiva’s name (e.g., Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), dedicating the merit for the protection of sādhus and the removal of inner “burdens” (ego, fear, and unrest).