Shloka 10
Munipraśna-varṇana
Description of the Sages’ Inquiry
तत्त्वं श्रुतं स्म नः सर्वं पूर्वमेव शुभाशुभम् । न तृप्तिमधिगच्छामः श्रवणेच्छा मुहुर्मुहुः
tattvaṃ śrutaṃ sma naḥ sarvaṃ pūrvameva śubhāśubham | na tṛptimadhigacchāmaḥ śravaṇecchā muhurmuhuḥ
لقد سمعنا من قبلُ الحقَّ كلَّه—فيما يتعلّق بالميمون وغير الميمون. ومع ذلك لا ننال الشبع؛ فمرّة بعد مرّة ينهض في داخلنا شوقُ السماع.
The sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (ṛṣis) addressing Sūta Gosvāmī
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: In the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā’s opening frame at Naimiṣāraṇya, the sages’ insatiable desire to hear ‘tattva’ anticipates the Kashi-centered revelation of Viśveśvara (Viśvanātha) as the supreme ‘tattva’ who grants jñāna and mokṣa; the narrative arc moves from general dharma-adharma hearing to the singular Śiva-tattva as the true refuge.
Significance: Śravaṇa (hearing) and kīrtana of Śiva-kathā are framed as direct means to purification of the bound soul; in Kāśī, this culminates in liberation-oriented remembrance of Viśveśvara.
Type: stotra
Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga frame is implicit in the Purāṇic setting; the sages’ repeated longing signals the need for salvific discourse in a declining age.
FAQs
It teaches that even when one has heard the doctrine of truth and karma (auspicious and inauspicious), the heart is not fully satisfied without repeatedly hearing Shiva-kathā; this recurring “thirst” is a mark of ripening devotion and grace-oriented yearning for Pati (Śiva).
Repeated listening naturally turns into repeated remembrance and worship: hearing the glory of Viśveśvara leads devotees toward Saguna upāsanā—especially Linga-worship—because the mind seeks a concrete focus for contemplation, surrender, and purification of śubha-aśubha karmas.
The implied practice is regular śravaṇa of Shiva Purana and Shiva-nāma, ideally paired with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Linga-pūjā, so the repeated desire to hear becomes steady sādhanā.