Shloka 3
अवंतीस्थ-ब्राह्मणकथा तथा तृतीय-ज्योतिर्लिङ्गोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावना
Avanti Brahmin Narrative and Prelude to the Third Jyotirliṅga
सूत उवाच । धन्योऽहं कृतकृत्योऽहं श्रीमतां भवतां यदि । गतश्च संगमं विप्रा धन्या वै साधुसंगतिः
sūta uvāca | dhanyo'haṃ kṛtakṛtyo'haṃ śrīmatāṃ bhavatāṃ yadi | gataśca saṃgamaṃ viprā dhanyā vai sādhusaṃgatiḥ
สุตะกล่าวว่า “ข้าพเจ้าช่างเป็นผู้มีบุญยิ่ง ชีวิตสำเร็จแล้ว เพราะได้พบปะคบหากับท่านพราหมณ์ฤๅษีผู้รุ่งเรืองทั้งหลาย แท้จริงแล้ว สาธุสังคมคือความเป็นสิริมงคล”
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Before narrating the next Jyotirliṅga, Sūta praises sādhu-saṅga as itself auspicious—establishing adhikāra (fitness) for receiving kṣetra-māhātmya and liṅga-kathā.
Significance: Sādhu-saṅga is treated as a primary purifier and gateway to Śiva-kathā; in Siddhānta terms it supports the soul’s turning from pāśa toward pati through śravaṇa and bhakti.
FAQs
It teaches that progress toward Shiva-bhakti and liberation is strengthened by sādhu-saṅgati—humble association with realized, dharmic devotees—because such company awakens devotion, right understanding, and steadiness on the path.
Satsanga provides the living tradition of Shiva-upāsanā—how to approach Saguna Shiva through reverence, purity, and disciplined devotion—so that Linga-worship becomes inwardly transformative rather than merely external.
The implied practice is to seek holy company, listen to Śiva-kathā, and cultivate bhakti; in that setting, devotees commonly take up mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a steady daily discipline.