Shloka 21
मुनिप्रश्नवर्णनम्
Description of the Sages’ Questions
सूत उवाच । सम्यक्पृष्टं भवद्भिश्च धन्या यूयं मुनीश्वराः । सदाशिवकथायां वो यज्जाता नैष्ठिकी मतिः
sūta uvāca | samyakpṛṣṭaṃ bhavadbhiśca dhanyā yūyaṃ munīśvarāḥ | sadāśivakathāyāṃ vo yajjātā naiṣṭhikī matiḥ
Sūta dit : «Votre question est posée comme il se doit ; vous êtes bénis, ô seigneurs des sages, car en vous s’est levée une détermination ferme et unifiée pour le récit sacré de Sadāśiva.»
Sūta Gosvāmi
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse functions as a framing benediction: the sages’ inquiry itself is treated as a meritorious doorway into Sadāśiva-kathā.
Significance: Śravaṇa (listening) and praśna (right inquiry) are presented as inner-tīrtha: they orient the paśu toward pati through steadfast intent (naiṣṭhikī mati), which Śaiva Siddhānta treats as a prerequisite for receiving anugraha.
FAQs
It praises the sages’ “naiṣṭhikī mati”—steady, unwavering intent—showing that sincere inquiry and attentive listening to Sadāśiva-kathā are themselves marks of grace and a direct support for liberation-oriented devotion.
By honoring devotion to Sadāśiva-kathā, the verse points to Saguna-focused devotion—approaching Shiva through name, form, and sacred narrative—which matures the mind toward steadiness and prepares one for deeper realization.
The implied practice is śravaṇa (devotional listening) and sat-saṅga: regularly hearing Shiva’s glories with one-pointed attention, supported by japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to stabilize naiṣṭhikī devotion.