Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4
The Description of the Skanda Purāṇa’s Anukramaṇī
Index/Summary
यः श्रृणोति पठेद्वापि स तु साक्षाच्छिवः स्थितः । यत्र माहेश्वरा धर्माः षण्मुखेन प्रकाशिताः ॥ ४ ॥
yaḥ śrṛṇoti paṭhedvāpi sa tu sākṣācchivaḥ sthitaḥ | yatra māheśvarā dharmāḥ ṣaṇmukhena prakāśitāḥ || 4 ||
Wer es hört oder auch nur rezitiert, der verweilt wahrlich wie Śiva selbst—denn hier sind die Maheśvara-Dharmas (die heiligen Lehren des Herrn) von Ṣaṇmukha, dem Sechsgesichtigen, offenbart worden.
Narada (narrating/affirming the fruit of hearing and recitation within the Maheśvara teaching context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It states the phala (spiritual fruit) of śravaṇa (listening) and pāṭha (recitation): engaging with these Maheśvara teachings is itself a transforming act that establishes the devotee in Śiva-like status (Śiva-sāyujya/Śiva-bhāva).
Bhakti here is practiced through attentive listening and faithful recitation. The verse emphasizes that devotion expressed as śravaṇa and pāṭha is sufficient to confer exalted spiritual attainment, because the content is divine revelation (prakāśita) of Maheśvara-dharma.
The verse highlights disciplined recitation (pāṭha), aligning with Śikṣā (proper oral transmission) and Vyākaraṇa-supported clarity of sacred wording—practical tools for preserving and correctly transmitting Purāṇic/Āgamic dharma.