Shloka 24
नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”
न ज्ञातं शिवतत्त्वं च पूजाविधिमतः क्रमात् । चरित्रं विविधं तस्य निवेदय मम प्रभो
na jñātaṃ śivatattvaṃ ca pūjāvidhimataḥ kramāt | caritraṃ vividhaṃ tasya nivedaya mama prabho
Je n’ai pas encore compris le véritable principe de Śiva, ni l’ordre juste du culte selon la règle rituelle. Ô mon Seigneur, expose-moi les nombreux actes sacrés et les récits variés qui le concernent.
Brahmā (requesting instruction about Shiva’s tattva and worship)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse frames liberation-oriented devotion: one seeks both śiva-tattva (right understanding of Pati, the Supreme Lord) and pūjā-krama (right practice). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, knowledge and disciplined worship together mature bhakti and remove bondage (pāśa).
By asking for the prescribed order of worship, the verse points to Saguna-upāsanā—approaching Shiva through accessible forms such as the Śiva-liṅga with proper rites—so the devotee’s mind becomes fit to grasp the deeper śiva-tattva beyond mere external ritual.
It suggests learning and following pūjā-vidhi in sequence—typically including mantra-japa (notably the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), purity disciplines, and liṅga-pūjā—so practice aligns with scripture and supports steady contemplation of Shiva.