Shloka 1
युद्धप्रस्थान-वर्णनम्
Departure to the Battlefield and the Śaiva Overlordship over the Devas
ईश्वर उवाच । वत्सकाः स्वस्तिवः कच्चिद्वर्तते मम शासनात् । जगच्च देवतावंशः स्वस्वकर्मणि किं नवा
īśvara uvāca | vatsakāḥ svastivaḥ kaccidvartate mama śāsanāt | jagacca devatāvaṃśaḥ svasvakarmaṇi kiṃ navā
自在天说道：“亲爱的孩子们，你们可都安好——万事是否依我的敕令而行？世间连同天神之族，是否各安其职、奉行本分，而无扰乱？”
Lord Shiva (Ishvara)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: As Viśveśvara, Śiva’s ‘śāsana’ (ordinance) sustains cosmic order; the Lord’s inquiry about the world’s proper functioning reflects Kāśī’s vision of Śiva as the regulator of dharma and the devas’ offices.
Significance: Hearing Śiva’s words on order and duty is taken as a reminder that alignment with īśvara-śāsana supports worldly harmony and spiritual progress toward liberation.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It presents Shiva as Īśvara—the supreme governor (Pati) whose ordinance sustains cosmic harmony, and it affirms that welfare (svasti) arises when beings remain established in their rightful duties.
As Saguna Shiva, Īśvara is portrayed as the personal Lord who actively oversees the universe; Linga-worship honors this sovereign, all-pervading Lord whose command upholds both devas and the world.
The practical takeaway is disciplined alignment with Shiva’s order through daily Shiva-smarana and japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating steadiness in one’s svadharma.