Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
नारद उवाच । ब्रह्मन्प्रजापते तात धन्यस्त्वं शिवसक्तधीः । एतदेव पुनस्सम्यग्ब्रूहि मे विस्तराद्विधे
nārada uvāca | brahmanprajāpate tāta dhanyastvaṃ śivasaktadhīḥ | etadeva punassamyagbrūhi me vistarādvidhe
നാരദൻ പറഞ്ഞു— ഹേ ബ്രഹ്മൻ, ഹേ പ്രജാപതേ, ഹേ പിതാവേ! ശിവനിൽ ആസക്തമായ നിന്റെ ബുദ്ധി ധന്യമാണ്. അതിനാൽ, ഹേ വിധാതാവേ, ഇതേ കാര്യത്തെ എനിക്ക് വീണ്ടും ശരിയായി, വിശദമായി പറഞ്ഞു തരിക.
Narada
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights that true blessedness lies in śiva-sakta-dhī—an intellect anchored in devotion to Śiva—along with the humility to seek correct and complete understanding of sacred teachings.
By praising Shiva-centered devotion and requesting detailed instruction, the verse supports Saguna upāsanā (devotional worship), which in the Shiva Purana is commonly expressed through reverence to Śiva in forms such as the Liṅga and through disciplined listening (śravaṇa) of Śiva-kathā.
The immediate practice implied is attentive śravaṇa and manana—hearing and reflecting on Śiva’s teachings with devotion; this is traditionally complemented by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to cultivate śiva-sakta-dhī.