Shloka 3
Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ
Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship
सूत उवाच । साधु पृष्टमृषिश्रेष्ठाः श्रूयतां कथयामि वः । चरित्रं शांकरं रम्यं शृण्वतां भुक्तिमुक्तिदम्
sūta uvāca | sādhu pṛṣṭamṛṣiśreṣṭhāḥ śrūyatāṃ kathayāmi vaḥ | caritraṃ śāṃkaraṃ ramyaṃ śṛṇvatāṃ bhuktimuktidam
Sūta said: “O best of sages, you have asked well. Listen—I shall narrate to you the delightful sacred account of Śaṅkara (Lord Śiva), which, for those who hear it with devotion, bestows both worldly fulfillment and liberation.”
Suta Goswami (Sūta)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Śravaṇa (devout hearing) of Śiva-caritra is presented as a direct upāya yielding both bhukti (worldly well-being) and mukti (liberation), aligning with Purāṇic śravaṇa-kīrtana as a pilgrimage-in-itself.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It declares śravaṇa (devout listening) to Śiva’s sacred deeds as a grace-bearing practice: Shiva-kathā purifies the bound soul (paśu) and, by Śiva’s compassion, leads from worldly well-being (bhukti) toward liberation (mukti).
By praising “Śāṃkara-caritra,” the verse supports Saguna Śiva devotion—approaching the Supreme through His narratable forms, names, and deeds—often centered in Kotirudra contexts on Jyotirliṅga glory and temple-pilgrimage faith.
The implied practice is Shiva-kathā-śravaṇa: regularly listening to or reciting Śiva Purāṇa narratives with devotion; it can be paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and simple worship (bhasma/rudrākṣa if one follows those observances).