Shloka 48
Śiva-jñāna and the Non-dual Vision of a Śiva-maya Universe (शिवज्ञानम्—सर्वं शिवमयम्)
एतच्छ्रुत्वा ह्येकवारं भवेत्पापं हि भस्मसात् । अभक्तो भक्तिमाप्नोति भक्तस्य भक्तिवर्द्धनम्
etacchrutvā hyekavāraṃ bhavetpāpaṃ hi bhasmasāt | abhakto bhaktimāpnoti bhaktasya bhaktivarddhanam
On hearing this even once, sin is truly reduced to ashes. One who is not a devotee attains devotion, and for a devotee it becomes an increase of devotion.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga legend; it states the phala-śruti: even one hearing burns pāpa to ashes and generates/increases bhakti—typical Purāṇic closure emphasizing transformative grace.
Significance: Promises purification (pāpa-kṣaya) and bhakti-utpatti/bhakti-vṛddhi through śravaṇa; functions as a ‘phalaśruti’ motivating recitation and listening.
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches the Shaiva principle that śravaṇa (hearing Shiva’s sacred account) purifies karmic impurity—sins are ‘burnt to ash’—and awakens bhakti, which is itself a direct means toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.
In the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā, the glory of Jyotirliṅgas is transmitted through Shiva-kathā; hearing that glory turns the mind toward Saguna Shiva (Shiva as worshipful Lord), making liṅga-bhakti arise in the non-devotee and deepen in the devotee.
Regular śravaṇa of Shiva Purana/Jyotirlinga māhātmya (even a single attentive hearing), ideally supported by japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and simple liṅga-upāsanā, is implied as the practical takeaway.