Shloka 18
Daśa-Śivāvatāra-Nirūpaṇa
Enumeration of Ten Prime Manifestations of Śiva with Their Śaktis
शैवपर्वसु सर्वेषु योऽधीते भक्तितत्परः । एतदाख्यानममलं सोतिशम्भुप्रियो भवेत्
śaivaparvasu sarveṣu yo'dhīte bhaktitatparaḥ | etadākhyānamamalaṃ sotiśambhupriyo bhavet
Whoever, intent on bhakti, studies this pure sacred narrative throughout all the Śaiva sections becomes exceedingly dear to Śambhu (Lord Śiva).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Śiva-prītyartha śravaṇa/adhyayana: hearing/reciting Śaiva kathā with bhakti is said to make the devotee ‘dear to Śambhu’, i.e., eligible for His grace (anugraha) and inner purification.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It teaches that śāstra-study becomes spiritually fruitful when joined with bhakti; such devoted recitation purifies the heart and draws the devotee into Śiva’s grace, making one “dear to Śambhu.”
By praising devoted study of Śaiva narratives, it supports Saguna-upāsanā—approaching Śiva as Śambhu, the compassionate Lord—where hearing/reciting His līlā and glory complements Linga worship through remembrance and devotion.
Daily pāṭha (recitation) or śravaṇa (listening) of Śaiva chapters with devotion, ideally alongside Śiva-nāma japa (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a focused bhakti practice.