Shloka 10
Munipraśna-varṇana
Description of the Sages’ Inquiry
तत्त्वं श्रुतं स्म नः सर्वं पूर्वमेव शुभाशुभम् । न तृप्तिमधिगच्छामः श्रवणेच्छा मुहुर्मुहुः
tattvaṃ śrutaṃ sma naḥ sarvaṃ pūrvameva śubhāśubham | na tṛptimadhigacchāmaḥ śravaṇecchā muhurmuhuḥ
శుభాశుభములతో కూడిన సమస్త తత్త్వాన్ని మేము ముందే విన్నాము; అయినా తృప్తి కలగదు—మళ్లీ మళ్లీ వినాలనే కోరిక మనలో ఉద్భవిస్తుంది।
The sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (ṛṣis) addressing Sūta Gosvāmī
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: In the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā’s opening frame at Naimiṣāraṇya, the sages’ insatiable desire to hear ‘tattva’ anticipates the Kashi-centered revelation of Viśveśvara (Viśvanātha) as the supreme ‘tattva’ who grants jñāna and mokṣa; the narrative arc moves from general dharma-adharma hearing to the singular Śiva-tattva as the true refuge.
Significance: Śravaṇa (hearing) and kīrtana of Śiva-kathā are framed as direct means to purification of the bound soul; in Kāśī, this culminates in liberation-oriented remembrance of Viśveśvara.
Type: stotra
Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga frame is implicit in the Purāṇic setting; the sages’ repeated longing signals the need for salvific discourse in a declining age.
FAQs
It teaches that even when one has heard the doctrine of truth and karma (auspicious and inauspicious), the heart is not fully satisfied without repeatedly hearing Shiva-kathā; this recurring “thirst” is a mark of ripening devotion and grace-oriented yearning for Pati (Śiva).
Repeated listening naturally turns into repeated remembrance and worship: hearing the glory of Viśveśvara leads devotees toward Saguna upāsanā—especially Linga-worship—because the mind seeks a concrete focus for contemplation, surrender, and purification of śubha-aśubha karmas.
The implied practice is regular śravaṇa of Shiva Purana and Shiva-nāma, ideally paired with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Linga-pūjā, so the repeated desire to hear becomes steady sādhanā.