260 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 7
TRANSLATION

The prajapatis said: O greatest of all demigods, Mahadeva,
Supersoul of all living entities and cause of their happiness and
prosperity, we have come to the shelter of your lotus feet. Now
please save us from this fiery poison, which is spreading all over
the three worlds.

PURPORT

Since Lord Siva is in charge of annihilation, why should he be ap-
proached for protection, which is given by Lord Visnu? Lord Brahma
creates, and Lord Siva annihilates, but both Lord Brahma and Lord Siva
are incarnations of Lord Visnu and are known as Saktydvesa-avataras.
They are endowed with a special power like that of Lord Visnu, who is
actually all-pervading in their activities. Therefore whenever prayers for
protection are offered to Lord Siva, actually Lord Visnu is indicated, for
otherwise Lord Siva is meant for destruction. Lord Siva is one of the
isvaras, or the controllers known as saktydvesa-avataras. Therefore he
can be addressed as having the qualities of Lord Visnu.

TEXT 22
aT waa salt THAT |
damalea gyen avast Tez 122M
tvam ekah sarva-jagata
isvaro bandha-moksayoh
tam tvam arcanti kusalah
prapannarti-haram gurum

tvam ekah—Your Lordship is indeed; sarva-jagatah—of the three
worlds; isvarah—the controller; bandha-moksayoh—of both bondage
and liberation; tam—that controller; tvdm arcanti—worship you;
kusalah—persons who want good fortune; prapanna-drti-haram—who
can mitigate all the distresses of a sheltered devotee; gurum—you who
act as a good advisor to all fallen souls.
