Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21
नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”
नत्वा तत्र विधिं भक्त्या स्तुत्वा च विविधैस्तवैः । पप्रच्छ शिवत्तत्वं शिवसंभक्तमानसः
natvā tatra vidhiṃ bhaktyā stutvā ca vividhaistavaiḥ | papraccha śivattatvaṃ śivasaṃbhaktamānasaḥ
সেখানে তিনি ভক্তিভরে বিধাতা ব্রহ্মাকে প্রণাম করে নানা স্তবে স্তব করলেন; তারপর শিবভক্তিতে পরিপূর্ণচিত্ত নারদ শিবতত্ত্ব সম্বন্ধে জিজ্ঞাসা করলেন।
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It presents the Shaiva path of approach: humility (namaskāra), devotional praise (stuti), and sincere inquiry into Śiva-tattva—implying that knowledge of Śiva arises from bhakti and reverence, not mere argument.
The verse models devotional engagement—praise and surrender—through which a seeker becomes fit to understand Śiva’s reality; in practice this aligns with Saguna worship (including Liṅga-pūjā) as a doorway to grasping the deeper Śiva-tattva.
It suggests a simple sādhana sequence: offer pranāma, recite Śiva-stotras or the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and then contemplate/ask about Śiva-tattva—turning worship into inquiry and meditation.