Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15
मुनिप्रश्नवर्णनम्
Description of the Sages’ Questions
स प्रसन्नो महेशानः किं प्रयच्छति सत्फलम् । स्वभक्तेभ्यः परेभ्यश्च तत्सर्वं कथयस्व नः
sa prasanno maheśānaḥ kiṃ prayacchati satphalam | svabhaktebhyaḥ parebhyaśca tatsarvaṃ kathayasva naḥ
เมื่อพระมหีศานทรงโปรดปราน พระองค์ประทานผลอันแท้จริงและเป็นมงคลใดแก่ผู้ภักดีของพระองค์และแก่ผู้อื่นด้วย? ขอท่านจงกล่าวบอกแก่พวกเราทั้งหมดเถิด
The sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (ṛṣis) addressing Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: General doctrinal query about the ‘satphala’ (true fruit) granted by the pleased Lord—classically mapped in Siddhānta to bhukti (worldly welfare) and, supremely, mukti through anugraha.
Significance: Directs pilgrims to seek the highest fruit (mukti) rather than only boons; also affirms Śiva’s non-sectarian benevolence extending beyond ‘insiders’.
Shakti Form: Umā
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
The verse frames Shiva’s grace (prasāda) as the decisive cause of “satphala”—the highest auspicious result—implying that liberation and right understanding arise primarily from Maheshana’s favor, not merely from personal effort.
By asking what Shiva grants when pleased, the verse supports Saguna upāsanā—worship of Shiva as the gracious Lord who responds to devotion (often through Liṅga worship), bestowing both worldly well-being and the inner maturity that leads toward moksha.
The practical takeaway is to pursue Shiva-prasāda through bhakti: regular Liṅga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and Shaiva marks like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supportive disciplines for steadiness and devotion.