Shloka 17
हिमालयगृहे नारदस्य आगमनम् तथा विश्वकर्मनिर्मितवैभववर्णनम् — Nārada’s Arrival at Himālaya’s Palace and the Description of Viśvakarman’s Marvels
तदा मया विष्णुना च सर्वे देवास्सवासवाः । पप्रच्छुस्त्वां मुने सर्वे रुद्रस्यानुचरास्तथा
tadā mayā viṣṇunā ca sarve devāssavāsavāḥ | papracchustvāṃ mune sarve rudrasyānucarāstathā
Then, along with me and Viṣṇu, all the gods—together with Indra—questioned you, O sage; and likewise all the attendants of Rudra also questioned you.
Brahmā (narrating to a sage within the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa context)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
Sthala Purana: No Jyotirliṅga; depicts devas (including Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Indra) and Rudra’s attendants questioning the sage—an epistemic moment where bound beings seek knowledge about Rudra.
Significance: Frames śravaṇa (hearing) and praśna (inquiry) as preparatory means: in Siddhānta, right knowledge (jñāna) arises through instruction and leads toward Śiva’s grace.
FAQs
It highlights that even the highest devas, including Viṣṇu and Indra, approach a realized sage with humility to inquire about Rudra—affirming Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis that true knowledge of Pati (Śiva) is gained through reverent inquiry and grace, not mere status.
The verse shows the gods seeking understanding of Rudra in a personal, approachable way—supporting Saguna Śiva worship (including the Śiva-liṅga) as a concrete focus for devotion and right knowledge, through which the seeker is led toward the highest reality of Śiva.
The takeaway is the discipline of śravaṇa and praśna—listening and sincere questioning before a competent teacher—paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to purify intent while seeking Rudra-tattva.