Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 50
संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”
वशिष्ठ उवाच । किमर्थमागता भद्रे निर्जनं त्वं महीधरम् । कस्य वा तनया किं वा भवत्यापि चिकीर्षितम्
vaśiṣṭha uvāca | kimarthamāgatā bhadre nirjanaṃ tvaṃ mahīdharam | kasya vā tanayā kiṃ vā bhavatyāpi cikīrṣitam
Vasiṣṭha sprach: „O glückverheißende Frau, zu welchem Zweck bist du auf diesen einsamen Berg gekommen? Wessen Tochter bist du, und was hast du in Wahrheit vor zu tun?“
Vasiṣṭha
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: The questioning on a solitary mountain underscores the purāṇic motif: secluded kṣetras become sites where concealed identities (tirodhāna) are disclosed through inquiry and tapas.
Significance: Models the sādhaka’s attitude: respectful inquiry (praśna) before revelation; in Siddhānta, right knowledge (samyagjñāna) arises through śravaṇa–manana under proper adhikāra.
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse highlights dharmic discernment: a sage first inquires into identity and intention. In Shaiva thought, purity of purpose (śuddha-saṅkalpa) precedes any approach to sacred spaces and to Lord Śiva’s path.
Although the Liṅga is not named here, the verse sets the narrative tone for regulated, respectful entry into sacred contexts—an attitude essential for Saguna Śiva worship, where outer conduct and inner intention must align.
The takeaway is self-inquiry before practice: clarify your saṅkalpa, then proceed with Śiva-upāsanā such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a focused mind.