Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12
अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka
Genealogy and Nature
ब्रह्मोवाच । व्यासस्य चैतद्वचनं निशम्य प्रोवाच स ब्रह्मसुतस्तदानीम् । महेश्वरोतीः परमाप्तलक्ष्मीस्संश्रोतुकामं जनकं शुकस्य
brahmovāca | vyāsasya caitadvacanaṃ niśamya provāca sa brahmasutastadānīm | maheśvarotīḥ paramāptalakṣmīssaṃśrotukāmaṃ janakaṃ śukasya
قال براهما: لما سمع ابنُ براهما كلامَ فياسا، تكلّم في الحال إلى والدِ شوكا، وكان متشوّقًا لسماع الروايات السامية عن ماهيشڤارا—روايات تمنح أسمى الحظوظ وأرفع نيلٍ روحيّ.
Brahmā
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Type: stotra
FAQs
The verse teaches that attentive listening (śravaṇa) to Maheśvara’s glories is itself a means to supreme auspicious attainment—orienting the seeker toward devotion to Pati (Śiva) and inner purification that supports liberation.
By praising the value of hearing Śiva’s līlā and stuti, the verse supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva through name, form, and sacred narration, which traditionally culminates in reverence for the Liṅga as the accessible focus of worship.
The direct practice implied is śravaṇa of Śiva-kathā; as a takeaway, one may pair it with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to internalize the teaching while listening or after hearing the कथा.