Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
विष्णुरुवाच । किमर्थमागता यूयं ब्रह्माद्याश्च सुरर्षयः । सर्वं वदत तत्प्रीत्या किं कार्यं विद्यतेऽधुना
viṣṇuruvāca | kimarthamāgatā yūyaṃ brahmādyāśca surarṣayaḥ | sarvaṃ vadata tatprītyā kiṃ kāryaṃ vidyate'dhunā
Viṣṇu sprach: „Aus welchem Grund seid ihr alle gekommen — Brahmā und die übrigen Götter und ṛṣis? Sagt mir alles in guter Gesinnung. Welche Aufgabe ist jetzt zu vollbringen?“
Lord Vishnu
Tattva Level: pashu
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: Formal opening of a divine deliberation (deva-sabhā) to determine the next cosmic task.
FAQs
It frames a sacred inquiry: even exalted deities act with humility and clarity of purpose, preparing the narrative space where Shiva-tattva and right action (dharma) will be revealed for the good of beings.
Though the verse itself is a question, it initiates the divine dialogue that typically culminates in guidance about approaching Shiva—often through saguna upāsanā such as the Śiva-liṅga, devotion (bhakti), and prescribed rites—leading the seeker toward Shiva’s supreme grace.
The immediate takeaway is the discipline of inquiry (jijñāsā) and respectful dialogue; in Shaiva practice this supports mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī) and attentive listening to Śiva-kathā as preparatory sādhanā.