Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43
भक्तिभेदाः—ज्ञानप्रधानभक्तेः प्रशंसा
Grades of Devotees and the Praise of Knowledge-Centered Devotion
इति श्रीशिवमहापुराणे द्वितीयायां रुद्रसंहितायां द्वितीये सतीखंडे दक्षय ज्ञानुसंधानवर्णनं नाम त्रिचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
iti śrīśivamahāpurāṇe dvitīyāyāṃ rudrasaṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye satīkhaṃḍe dakṣaya jñānusaṃdhānavarṇanaṃ nāma tricatvāriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ
So endet im Śrī Śiva‑Mahāpurāṇa — in der zweiten Saṃhitā, der Rudra‑Saṃhitā — das dreiundvierzigste Kapitel des zweiten Abschnitts, der Satī‑Khaṇḍa, betitelt: „Bericht über Dakṣas Befragung und die Erforschung der Erkenntnis“.
Suta Goswami (narrative colophon voice addressing the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Sthala Purana: Colophon identifying textual locus: Rudrasaṃhitā → Satīkhaṇḍa → adhyāya 43, titled Dakṣa’s inquiry and investigation into knowledge; anchors the narrative within the Purāṇic transmission lineage.
Significance: Functions as śāstra-pramāṇa marker: establishes authority and continuity of recitation tradition, akin to a 'map' for ritual reading cycles (parāyaṇa).
FAQs
This is the chapter-colophon marking the completion of Adhyāya 43, emphasizing “jñānānusandhāna”—the disciplined inquiry into true knowledge—an essential means by which the bound soul turns toward Śiva (Pati) for liberation.
While the line itself is a formal closing, it frames the chapter as centered on knowledge-oriented inquiry; in Shaiva practice, such inquiry culminates in devotion and right worship of Saguna Śiva (including Liṅga-upāsanā) as the accessible focus leading the seeker toward Śiva’s highest reality.
The verse directly signals a theme rather than a specific rite; the implied takeaway is sustained contemplation and inquiry (anusandhāna) into Śiva-tattva, typically supported in the Purāṇa by mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī) and steady devotional remembrance.