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
سوت نے کہا—میں مبارک بخت ہوں، میں کِرتکرتیہ ہوں؛ اے وِپرو! تم جیسے جلیل القدر رشیوں کی صحبت مجھے نصیب ہوئی ہے۔ بے شک صالحین کی سنگت ہی برکت ہے۔
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.