Shloka 1
सतीविरहानन्तरं शम्भोश्चरितम् / Śiva’s Conduct After Satī’s Separation
नारद उवाच । विष्णुशिष्य महाभाग विधे शैववर प्रभो । शिवलीलामिमां व्यासात्प्रीत्या मे वक्तुमर्हसि
nārada uvāca | viṣṇuśiṣya mahābhāga vidhe śaivavara prabho | śivalīlāmimāṃ vyāsātprītyā me vaktumarhasi
Nārada said: “O noble one, disciple of Viṣṇu—O venerable Brahmā, best among the devotees of Śiva! Out of affection, please be gracious to tell me this divine play of Śiva, just as you heard it from Vyāsa.”
Nārada
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse establishes śravaṇa (devout listening) as a primary means of grace: Nārada approaches a qualified transmitter (Brahmā) and requests Śiva-līlā with love, indicating that sacred narrative heard in devotion purifies the paśu (bound soul) and turns it toward Pati (Śiva).
By asking for Śiva’s līlā, Nārada seeks understanding of Śiva’s accessible, saguna manifestations and deeds—precisely the basis for bhakti practices such as Liṅga-pūjā, where the devotee contemplates Śiva’s compassion and divine action while worshipping the emblem of the Supreme.
The implied practice is śravaṇa and kathā-sevā—regular listening/recitation of Śiva Purāṇa with devotion—supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and mindful remembrance of Śiva’s līlā during daily worship.