श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
अध्यापनं चाध्ययनं यजनं याजनं तथा । ध्यानमीश्वरभावश्च सततं ज्ञानशीलता । य एवं वर्तते विप्रो ज्ञानयोगस्य सिद्धये । अचिरादेव विज्ञानं लब्ध्वा योगं च विंदति । दग्ध्वा देहमिमं ज्ञानी क्षणाज्ज्ञानाग्निना प्रिये
adhyāpanaṃ cādhyayanaṃ yajanaṃ yājanaṃ tathā | dhyānamīśvarabhāvaśca satataṃ jñānaśīlatā | ya evaṃ vartate vipro jñānayogasya siddhaye | acirādeva vijñānaṃ labdhvā yogaṃ ca viṃdati | dagdhvā dehamimaṃ jñānī kṣaṇājjñānāgninā priye
Ang pagtuturo at pag-aaral, ang pag-aalay ng yajña at ang pamumuno ng yajña para sa iba, kasama ang pagninilay, ang palagiang pagdama sa presensya ng Panginoon (īśvara-bhāva), at ang di-natitinag na pagkahilig sa banal na kaalaman—kapag ang isang Brahmana ay namumuhay nang ganito para sa katuparan ng jñāna-yoga, agad niyang nakakamit ang vijñāna (ganap na pag-unawa) at natatagpuan ang yoga. O minamahal, na wari’y sinusunog sa isang kisap ang kalagayang may-katawan sa apoy ng kaalaman, ang nakaaalam ay napapalaya.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Frames orthodox duties (adhyāpana, adhyayana, yajana, yājana) as preparatory purification, but culminates in vijñāna and yoga—an inner ‘tīrtha’ of knowledge-fire that liberates.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
It presents a Shaiva Siddhanta-aligned discipline where scriptural learning, worshipful duty, meditation, and constant God-consciousness mature into vijñāna (realized knowledge) that burns bondage and leads to moksha under the grace and presence of Pati (Shiva).
The verse links outer dharma (yajana—ritual worship) with inner dhyāna and īśvara-bhāva, showing how Saguna worship (including Linga-upāsanā) becomes a support for purification and steady contemplation, culminating in liberating knowledge.
Regular worship (yajana) combined with meditation (dhyāna) and continuous īśvara-bhāva is emphasized; in practice this aligns with daily Shiva-pūjā, japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and contemplative remembrance that transforms conduct into jñāna-yoga.