Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1
शङ्खचूडवधकथनम् / The Account of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Slaying
सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथान्यच्छंभुचरितं प्रेमतः शृणु वै मुने । यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण शिवभक्तिर्दृढा भवेत्
sanatkumāra uvāca | athānyacchaṃbhucaritaṃ premataḥ śṛṇu vai mune | yasya śravaṇamātreṇa śivabhaktirdṛḍhā bhavet
Sanatkumāra sprach: „Nun denn, o Weiser, höre in liebevoller Hingabe eine weitere heilige Erzählung von Śambhu (Herrn Śiva). Schon durch bloßes Hören wird die Hingabe zu Śiva fest und unerschütterlich.“
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Introductory invitation to śravaṇa of Śambhu-carita; functions as kathā-māhātmya rather than a particular kṣetra legend.
Significance: Positions loving listening (premataḥ śṛṇu) as a direct means to dṛḍha-śivabhakti—an inner pilgrimage culminating in grace.
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that śravaṇa (devout listening to Shiva-kathā) is itself a powerful sādhana: even hearing the Lord’s līlā and greatness stabilizes the mind in steadfast Shiva-bhakti, preparing the seeker for grace (anugraha).
By praising “Śambhu-carita,” the verse supports Saguna devotion—approaching Shiva through His narrated deeds and compassionate manifestations—which naturally matures into reverence for the Śiva-liṅga as the accessible, worshipful presence of Pati.
Regular śravaṇa of Shiva Purana/Śiva-kathā with premā (loving intent), ideally paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to make devotion steady and continuous.