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Shloka 25

सतीकृतप्रार्थना तथा परतत्त्वजिज्ञासा — Satī’s Prayer and Inquiry into the Supreme Principle

कथादेर्नित्यसम्मानं कुर्वन्देहादिभिर्मुदा । स्थिरासनेन तत्पानं यत्तच्छ्रवणमुच्यते

kathādernityasammānaṃ kurvandehādibhirmudā | sthirāsanena tatpānaṃ yattacchravaṇamucyate

This is called true śravaṇa (listening): joyfully offering constant reverence to the sacred narration and the like, and ‘drinking’ it while seated steadily—honouring it with one’s body and all one’s faculties.

kathā-ādeḥof stories and the like
kathā-ādeḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootkathā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; ādi-śabdaḥ; ‘of (things) beginning with kathā’
nitya-sammānamconstant honour/respect
nitya-sammānam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootnitya (प्रातिपदिक) + sammāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारयः (‘constant’ + ‘honour’)
kurvandoing; performing
kurvan:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Root√kṛ (धातु)
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agreeing with implied practitioner
deha-ādibhiḥwith the body and so on
deha-ādibhiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootdeha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; ‘with the body etc.’
mudāwith joy
mudā:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootmudā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; manner (भाव)
sthira-āsanenaby a steady posture/seat
sthira-āsanena:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootsthira (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; कर्मधारयः (‘steady’ + ‘seat/posture’)
tat-pānamthat imbibing (of it)
tat-pānam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (‘that’ + ‘drinking/imbibing’)
yatwhich
yat:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun
tatthat
tat:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; correlative pronoun
śravaṇamhearing/listening
śravaṇam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootśravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
ucyateis called
ucyate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√vac (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Ātmanepada; passive sense (कर्मणि प्रयोग)

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

S
Shiva

FAQs

It defines śravaṇa as an active devotional discipline: revering Śiva-kathā daily and absorbing it with steadiness and joy, so the teaching becomes internalized and purifies the seeker toward Śiva’s grace.

By treating the narration of Śiva’s forms, deeds, and glory as worthy of continual honour, the devotee’s attention becomes one-pointed; this supports Saguna devotion (including Liṅga worship) by making the mind receptive, steady, and reverential.

A simple sādhana is implied: sit in a stable posture (sthirāsana) and listen attentively to Śiva-kathā as ‘nectar,’ maintaining bodily discipline and devotional reverence—often paired in practice with mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).