Shloka 28
नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”
संतुष्टश्च स्वभक्तेभ्यः परेभ्यश्च महेश्वरः । किं फलं यच्छति विधे तत्सर्वं कथयस्व मे
saṃtuṣṭaśca svabhaktebhyaḥ parebhyaśca maheśvaraḥ | kiṃ phalaṃ yacchati vidhe tatsarvaṃ kathayasva me
Lorsque Mahādeva est satisfait—de ses propres dévots comme des autres—quel fruit accorde-t-il, ô Créateur (Brahmā) ? Dis-moi tout cela.
Narada (inquiring from Brahma/Vidhata in the Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa dialogue context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse highlights Śiva as the universal bestower of grace: when pleased, He can grant both worldly fruits and the highest good—His anugraha (saving grace)—not limited only to an “insider” group, but responsive to sincerity and merit.
It frames Saguna Śiva (Mahēśvara) as approachable and responsive: through Liṅga-worship, mantra, and devotion, the devotee seeks to please Him, after which He grants appropriate fruits—bhoga (enjoyment/boons) and, ultimately, the path toward mokṣa through grace.
The implied practice is to “please Mahādeva” through bhakti and upāsanā—especially Liṅga-pūjā with mantra-japa (notably the Pañcākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with Shaiva marks like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where taught in the broader text.