Shloka 19
सतीकृतप्रार्थना तथा परतत्त्वजिज्ञासा — Satī’s Prayer and Inquiry into the Supreme Principle
नैष्ठिक्या नैष्ठिकी भेदाद्द्विविधे द्विविधे हि ते । षड्विधा नैष्ठिकी ज्ञेया द्वितीयैकविधा स्मृता
naiṣṭhikyā naiṣṭhikī bhedāddvividhe dvividhe hi te | ṣaḍvidhā naiṣṭhikī jñeyā dvitīyaikavidhā smṛtā
Because of the distinction between the ‘naiṣṭhikya’ and the ‘naiṣṭhikī’, these are indeed twofold. Of these, the naiṣṭhikī is to be understood as sixfold, while the second (naiṣṭhikya) is remembered as of a single kind.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
FAQs
It teaches that steadfast spiritual commitment has recognized categories: one stream is single in essence, while another has multiple practical modes—showing that devotion to Shiva can be one in goal (union with Pati) yet diverse in discipline.
By emphasizing ‘naiṣṭhā’ (unwavering steadiness), it supports Saguna worship—such as Linga-upāsanā—as a structured path where different disciplined forms (the sixfold naiṣṭhikī) culminate in the same Shiva-realization.
The takeaway is consistency: maintain a fixed daily Shiva-sādhana—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), regular Linga worship, and a steady vow-like discipline—rather than changing practices frequently.