Shloka 1
Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra
Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms
सूत उवाच । श्रुत्वोपदिष्टं गुरुणा वेदार्थं मुनिपुंगवः । परमात्मनि संदिग्धं परिपप्रच्छ सादरम्
sūta uvāca | śrutvopadiṣṭaṃ guruṇā vedārthaṃ munipuṃgavaḥ | paramātmani saṃdigdhaṃ paripapraccha sādaram
Sūta said: Having heard from his guru the purport of the Vedas, that foremost of sages—still doubtful regarding the Supreme Self—reverently questioned (his teacher) again.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It affirms that even after receiving Vedic instruction, sincere doubt about the Supreme Reality should be clarified through humble inquiry—showing the Shaiva path of knowledge guided by devotion and the guru’s grace.
The doubt about the Paramatman points to the need for a graspable focus for meditation; in Shaiva tradition, Saguna Shiva and the Linga serve as accessible supports leading the seeker toward realization of Shiva as the Supreme Self.
The implied practice is guru-guided inquiry (śravaṇa–manana) alongside steady Shiva-upāsanā—such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to purify doubt and stabilize contemplation.