Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22
मुनिप्रश्नवर्णनम्
Description of the Sages’ Questions
सदाशिवकथाप्रश्नः पुरुषांस्त्रीन्पुनाति हि । वक्तारं पृच्छकं श्रोतॄञ्जाह्नवीसलिलं यथा
sadāśivakathāpraśnaḥ puruṣāṃstrīnpunāti hi | vaktāraṃ pṛcchakaṃ śrotṝñjāhnavīsalilaṃ yathā
Wahrlich, eine Frage nach der heiligen Erzählung von Sadāśiva reinigt drei Arten von Menschen — Männer wie Frauen: den Sprecher, den Fragenden und die Zuhörer — so wie die Wasser der Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā) reinigen.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya in the opening of the Rudra Saṃhitā, Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Uses Gaṅgā (Jāhnavī) as the archetypal purifier to analogize the purificatory power of Sadāśiva-kathā-praśna; not tied to a single liṅga-site.
Significance: Equates kathā-śravaṇa/saṅgati with tīrtha-sevā: the triad (speaker–questioner–listener) is purified, suggesting communal transmission as a vehicle of grace.
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse teaches that sincere inquiry into Sadāśiva’s kathā is itself a purifying act: it sanctifies the entire sacred chain of transmission—teacher, seeker, and community of listeners—like Gaṅgā’s cleansing power, emphasizing Śaiva satsanga and śravaṇa as direct aids to inner purity.
Śiva-kathā and questioning cultivate devotion and right understanding of Sadāśiva as the supreme Pati, making the mind fit for Saguna worship such as Liṅga-pūjā; the purification described supports approaching the Liṅga with śraddhā, humility, and focused awareness.
The implied practice is regular śravaṇa (listening) and praśna (reverent inquiry) in satsanga—especially during observances like Mahāśivarātri—along with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to stabilize the purification gained through Shiva-kathā.