Shloka 2
शिवानुकम्पा, ब्रह्मणो निर्भयत्वं च (Śiva’s Compassion and Brahmā’s Fearlessness)
ततः किमभवत्तात कथ्यतां शशिमौलिनः । सत्याश्च चरितं दिव्यं सर्वाघौघविनाशनम्
tataḥ kimabhavattāta kathyatāṃ śaśimaulinaḥ | satyāśca caritaṃ divyaṃ sarvāghaughavināśanam
«ثم ماذا حدث بعد ذلك، يا عزيز؟ حدّثني عن شِيفا، ربّ ذي التاج القمري؛ وروِ أيضًا السيرة الإلهية لِسَتِي، فإن خبرها المقدّس يُبيد سيلَ الخطايا كلَّه.»
The sages at Naimiṣāraṇya (inquiring of Sūta Gosvāmī)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: This verse functions as a narrative invitation (śravaṇa-māhātmya) rather than a specific liṅga-sthala episode; it frames Satī’s divine history as sin-destroying and thus sets up the Satīkhaṇḍa’s ensuing events.
Significance: Hearing/reciting Śiva–Satī kathā is presented as pāpa-kṣaya (destruction of accumulated sins), a common Purāṇic equivalent of tīrtha-phala.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: liberating
FAQs
It proclaims śravaṇa (devout hearing) of Śiva and Satī’s divine narrative as a purifying sādhana that dissolves accumulated pāpa, turning the listener toward Śiva-bhakti and liberation.
By invoking Śiva as “Śaśimauli” (a saguna, worshipful form), the verse frames the coming narration as an act of devotion that supports concrete worship—such as Liṅga-pūjā—through remembrance of Śiva’s līlā and grace.
The implied practice is kathā-śravaṇa and nāma-smaraṇa—listening to Śiva-kathā with reverence and repeating Śiva’s names (including the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a means of inner purification.