Shloka 32
पितृसर्ग-श्राद्धमाहात्म्य-प्रश्नः
Pitṛ-sarga and the Greatness of Śrāddha: The Inquiry
यत्त्वं पृच्छसि मां तात तदेवाहं महामुनिम् । मार्कण्डेयमपृच्छं हि स मां प्रोवाच धर्मवित्
yattvaṃ pṛcchasi māṃ tāta tadevāhaṃ mahāmunim | mārkaṇḍeyamapṛcchaṃ hi sa māṃ provāca dharmavit
ಓ ತಾತ, ನೀನು ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಕೇಳುವ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನೇ ನಾನು ಮಹಾಮುನಿ ಮಾರ್ಕಂಡೇಯರನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿದ್ದೆನು; ಧರ್ಮವಿತ್ತನಾದ ಅವರು ಅದನ್ನು ನನಗೆ ಯಥಾರ್ಥವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಿದರು।
An elder narrator in the Umāsaṃhitā (a teacher-figure recounting what Mārkaṇḍeya taught)
Tattva Level: pashu
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It establishes a valid lineage of transmission: sacred knowledge is received from an authoritative sage (Mārkaṇḍeya, a dharma-knower) and then conveyed onward, emphasizing humility, fidelity to śāstra, and the guru-paramparā central to Shaiva teaching.
Though it does not mention the Liṅga directly, it frames how correct Shaiva practice is learned—through reliable instruction—so that Saguna Shiva worship (ritual, mantra, and devotion) is performed according to dharma rather than personal opinion.
The implied practice is śravaṇa (reverent listening) and seeking guidance from a realized teacher; one should learn mantra-japa, bhasma/tripuṇḍra observance, and Shaiva vows only after receiving proper instruction from an authentic source.