Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
श्रीभगवानुवाच । ब्रह्मञ्च्छृणु सुरैस्सम्यक्श्रुतं च भवता पुरा । तथापि कथ्यते तुभ्यं देवेभ्यश्च तथा पुनः
śrībhagavānuvāca | brahmañcchṛṇu suraissamyakśrutaṃ ca bhavatā purā | tathāpi kathyate tubhyaṃ devebhyaśca tathā punaḥ
شری بھگوان نے فرمایا—اے برہما، سنو۔ جو بات تم نے پہلے دیوتاؤں کی سبھا میں خوب سن لی تھی، وہی تمہارے اور دیوتاؤں کے لیے پھر سے کہی جاتی ہے۔
Lord Shiva (Śrī Bhagavān)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Frames Śiva as the repeating teacher of salvific knowledge; hearing (śravaṇa) and recollection of doctrine are treated as grace-bearing acts.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It emphasizes śravaṇa (attentive listening) as a primary means of receiving Shiva’s grace-giving knowledge; even divine teachings are repeated so that understanding becomes firm and liberating.
By presenting Shiva as the direct teacher (Saguna Lord who speaks), it frames later instructions—often including Linga-worship and ritual dharma—as authoritative revelations meant for devas and humans alike.
The immediate practice is disciplined śravaṇa: regularly hearing Shiva-kathā and teachings (often alongside japa of Shiva’s names/mantras) so the mind becomes steady and receptive to right understanding.