Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4
त्रिपुरदाहानन्तरं देवभयः ब्रह्मस्तुतिश्च — Fear of the Gods after Tripura’s Burning and Brahmā’s Praise
सनत्कुमार उवाच । शृणु व्यास महाबुद्धे पाराशर्यं महेशितुः । चरितं सर्वपापघ्नं लोकलीलानुसाररिणः
sanatkumāra uvāca | śṛṇu vyāsa mahābuddhe pārāśaryaṃ maheśituḥ | caritaṃ sarvapāpaghnaṃ lokalīlānusārariṇaḥ
Sanatkumāra said: O Vyāsa of great intelligence, listen to the sacred account of Maheśa, the Lord—an account that destroys all sins and accords with His divine līlā in the worlds.
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Śravaṇa (hearing) of Maheśa-carita is presented as sarva-pāpa-hara; in Śaiva Siddhānta this aligns with śravaṇa/manana as preparatory means that dispose the paśu toward Śiva’s anugraha.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It establishes śravaṇa (devout hearing) of Śiva’s carita as a purifying practice: contemplating the Lord’s līlā removes pāpa and turns the mind toward Pati (Śiva), supporting the Shaiva path toward grace and liberation.
By praising the Lord’s manifest deeds in the worlds, it affirms Saguna Śiva—Śiva approachable through name, form, and narrative—preparing the devotee for heartfelt worship such as Liṅga-pūjā grounded in devotion and remembrance.
The implied practice is regular śravaṇa and manana—hearing and reflecting on Śiva-kathā—as a daily sādhana, ideally paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) for inner purification.