Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

मुनिप्रश्नवर्णनम्

Description of the Sages’ Questions

Devanagari script

सदाशिवकथाप्रश्नः पुरुषांस्त्रीन्पुनाति हि । वक्तारं पृच्छकं श्रोतॄञ्जाह्नवीसलिलं यथा

Transliteration

sadāśivakathāpraśnaḥ puruṣāṃstrīnpunāti hi | vaktāraṃ pṛcchakaṃ śrotṝñjāhnavīsalilaṃ yathā

Translation

Sesungguhnya, pertanyaan tentang kisah suci Sadāśiva menyucikan tiga golongan insan—lelaki dan perempuan: yang menyampaikan, yang bertanya, dan yang mendengar—seperti air Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā) yang menyucikan.

Word by Word

• सदाशिवकथाप्रश्नः: the question about Sadāśiva’s story
• सदाशिवकथाप्रश्नः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदाशिवकथा + प्रश्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (sadāśivakathāyāḥ praśnaḥ)

• पुरुषान्: men
• पुरुषान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (qualifies पुरुषान्)

• पुनाति: purifies
• पुनाति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipata (निपात/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• वक्तारम्: the speaker
• वक्तारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पृच्छकम्: the questioner
• पृच्छकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृच्छक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रोतॄन्: the listeners
• श्रोतॄन्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रोत्रि/श्रोतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• जाह्नवीसलिलम्: the water of the Jāhnavī (Ganges)
• जाह्नवीसलिलम्: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाह्नवी + सलिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (jāhnavyāḥ salilam)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upama-sambandha (उपमा-सम्बन्ध/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative indeclinable: "as")

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya in the opening of the Rudra Saṃhitā, Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Uses Gaṅgā (Jāhnavī) as the archetypal purifier to analogize the purificatory power of Sadāśiva-kathā-praśna; not tied to a single liṅga-site.

Significance: Equates kathā-śravaṇa/saṅgati with tīrtha-sevā: the triad (speaker–questioner–listener) is purified, suggesting communal transmission as a vehicle of grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Sadāśiva
• Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse teaches that sincere inquiry into Sadāśiva’s kathā is itself a purifying act: it sanctifies the entire sacred chain of transmission—teacher, seeker, and community of listeners—like Gaṅgā’s cleansing power, emphasizing Śaiva satsanga and śravaṇa as direct aids to inner purity.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Śiva-kathā and questioning cultivate devotion and right understanding of Sadāśiva as the supreme Pati, making the mind fit for Saguna worship such as Liṅga-pūjā; the purification described supports approaching the Liṅga with śraddhā, humility, and focused awareness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is regular śravaṇa (listening) and praśna (reverent inquiry) in satsanga—especially during observances like Mahāśivarātri—along with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to stabilize the purification gained through Shiva-kathā.