Shloka 76
Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)
य इमं श्रद्धया युक्तो मद्गीतं भगवत्स्तवम् । अधीयानो दुराराध्यं हरिमाराधयत्यसौ ॥ ७६ ॥
ya imaṁ śraddhayā yukto mad-gītaṁ bhagavat-stavam adhīyāno durārādhyaṁ harim ārādhayaty asau
Although worship and devotional service to Lord Hari are difficult, one who, with faith, recites or reads this Bhagavān-stotra composed and sung by me can very easily obtain the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
It is especially significant that Lord Śiva is a pure devotee of Lord Vāsudeva. Vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ: “Amongst all Vaiṣṇavas, Lord Śiva is the topmost.” Consequently Lord Śiva has a sampradāya, a Vaiṣṇava disciplic succession, called the Rudra sampradāya. At the present moment those who belong to the Viṣṇusvāmi sampradāya of Vaiṣṇavas come from Rudra, Lord Śiva. To become a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva, is very, very difficult. The word especially used in this connection is durārādhyam. The worship of the demigods is not very difficult, but becoming a devotee of Lord Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa, is not so easy. However, if one adheres to the principles and follows in the footsteps of the higher authorities, as advised by Lord Śiva, one can easily become a devotee of Lord Vāsudeva. This is also confirmed by Prahlāda Mahārāja. Devotional service cannot be practiced by a mental speculator. Devotional service is a special attainment which can be acquired only by a person who has surrendered unto a pure devotee. As confirmed by Prahlāda Mahārāja, mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekaṁ niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat: “Unless one accepts the dust of the lotus feet of a pure devotee, who is free from all material contamination, one cannot enter into the devotional service of the Lord.” ( Bhāg. 7.5.32 )
FAQs
This verse says that faithfully studying/reciting a hymn glorifying the Lord is itself a form of worship that pleases Hari.
After teaching them a devotional hymn to the Supreme Lord, Śiva explains its fruit: sincere study with faith becomes effective worship of Hari, guiding the Pracetās toward pure devotion.
Choose an authentic Bhagavatam prayer or hymn, study/recite it daily with faith and attention, and treat it as direct worship—letting the words shape your remembrance and devotion.