Shloka 5
Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ
Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship
ब्रह्मोवाच । शृणु नारद सुप्रीत्या शांकरं चरितं वरम् । प्रवक्ष्यामि भवत्स्नेहान्महापातकनाशनम्
brahmovāca | śṛṇu nārada suprītyā śāṃkaraṃ caritaṃ varam | pravakṣyāmi bhavatsnehānmahāpātakanāśanam
Brahmā said: “Listen, O Nārada, with glad devotion, to this excellent sacred account of Śaṅkara (Lord Śiva). Out of affection for you, I shall narrate it—an account that destroys even the gravest sins.”
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Promises pāpa-kṣaya through śiva-caritra-śravaṇa; in pilgrimage theology, this parallels tīrtha-snāna merit—here achieved by attentive listening and receptivity to grace.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
It establishes śravaṇa (reverent listening) to Śiva’s sacred deeds as a purifying practice: Shiva-kathā, received with devotion, is said to dissolve even mahāpātakas and turn the mind toward Pati (Śiva), the liberator.
By praising “Śāṃkaraṃ caritam,” the verse points to Saguna Śiva—Śaṅkara known through name, form, and līlā—whose worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) is supported by hearing and remembering His glories as part of bhakti.
The implied practice is Shiva-kathā śravaṇa: regularly listening to or reciting Śiva Purāṇa narratives with devotion, ideally alongside mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to internalize the purifying intent.