Shloka 52
Śiva-jñāna and the Non-dual Vision of a Śiva-maya Universe (शिवज्ञानम्—सर्वं शिवमयम्)
पुरातनाश्च राजानो विप्रा वैश्याश्च सत्तमाः । इदं श्रुत्वा पंचकृत्वो धिया सिद्धिं परां गताः
purātanāśca rājāno viprā vaiśyāśca sattamāḥ | idaṃ śrutvā paṃcakṛtvo dhiyā siddhiṃ parāṃ gatāḥ
Die Könige der Vorzeit und auch die Besten unter den Brāhmaṇas und Vaiśyas—nachdem sie dies fünfmal gehört hatten—gelangten durch standhafte Einsicht zur höchsten Vollendung (siddhi).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: General exemplum (itihāsa-style) citing ancient kings and exemplary dvija/vaiśya devotees who attained siddhi through fivefold hearing.
Significance: Establishes universality: across varṇa and social roles, disciplined śravaṇa yields ‘parā siddhi’—a democratizing bhakti claim within dharmic order.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that śravaṇa—reverent, repeated listening to Shiva’s sacred teaching—purifies the mind and stabilizes discernment (dhī), leading aspirants toward the highest siddhi, i.e., liberation by Shiva’s grace.
In the Kotirudra context (Jyotirliṅga-centered devotion), hearing the glories and instructions connected with Shiva’s manifested presence (Saguna—Liṅga/Jyotirliṅga) strengthens faith and inner clarity, which culminates in supreme attainment.
The implied practice is disciplined śravaṇa and mananā—hearing and reflecting—such as repeatedly listening to Shiva-kathā or the Jyotirliṅga māhātmya with focused mind, ideally supported by mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī) and daily Shaiva observances.