सूत उवाच । विचित्रं शिवनिर्माणं विचित्र शिवचेष्टितम् । विचित्रं शिवमाहात्म्यं विचित्रं शिवभाषितम्
sūta uvāca | vicitraṃ śivanirmāṇaṃ vicitra śivaceṣṭitam | vicitraṃ śivamāhātmyaṃ vicitraṃ śivabhāṣitam
সূত বললেন—শিবের সৃষ্টি বিচিত্র, শিবের কর্মও বিচিত্র; শিবের মাহাত্ম্য বিচিত্র, আর শিবের বাক্যও বিচিত্র।
Sūta
Listener: Śaunaka and assembled sages
Scene: A cosmic tableau: Śiva as creator and mover of wondrous deeds; four vignettes—creation, dance, bestowal of grace, and teaching—unified by a central Śiva figure radiating mystery.
Śiva’s nature is portrayed as beyond ordinary measure—his works, speech, and glory inspire reverence and devotional awe.
No site is named; it is a general praise of Śiva’s māhātmya.
None; it functions as an opening stuti (praise).