Shloka 6
Anasūyā–Atri Tapas-Varṇana
Description of Anasūyā and Atri’s Austerities
सूत उवाच । साधु पृष्ठमृषिश्रेष्ठाः कथयामि कथां शुभाम् । यां कथां सततं श्रुत्वा पातकैर्मुच्यते ध्रुवम्
sūta uvāca | sādhu pṛṣṭhamṛṣiśreṣṭhāḥ kathayāmi kathāṃ śubhām | yāṃ kathāṃ satataṃ śrutvā pātakairmucyate dhruvam
Sūta said: “O best of sages, you have asked well. I shall narrate to you this auspicious sacred account—by continually hearing which one is surely released from sins.”
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Introductory phalaśruti: Sūta frames the forthcoming Rudra-kathā as intrinsically purifying; the ‘place’ is the śravaṇa-satsaṅga itself rather than a specific liṅga-sthala.
Significance: Śravaṇa (continual hearing) functions as pāpa-kṣaya and prepares the paśu for Śiva’s anugraha (descent of grace) through right knowledge and devotion.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It establishes śravaṇa (devotional hearing) of Shiva’s sacred narrative as a purifying practice that removes pāpa (sin) and supports liberation, aligning with Shaiva devotion as a means to grace.
By praising the power of hearing the auspicious Shiva-kathā, it points to Saguna Shiva worship through narrative devotion—preparing the listener for faith in Shiva’s manifestations such as the Jyotirlingas described in the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā.
Regular Shiva-kathā śravaṇa (listening/recitation) with devotion—ideally alongside remembrance of Shiva’s name (japa, such as the Panchakshara ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) as a sustained daily discipline.