Shloka 26
शौनक उवाच । स वै गरेण सहितः कथं जातस्तु क्षत्रियात् । जितवानेतदाचक्ष्व विस्तरेण हि सूतज
śaunaka uvāca | sa vai gareṇa sahitaḥ kathaṃ jātastu kṣatriyāt | jitavānetadācakṣva vistareṇa hi sūtaja
Śaunaka said: “How was he born from a Kṣatriya, and how did he come to be accompanied by that ‘Gara’? O son of Sūta, explain in detail how he became victorious.”
Śaunaka (speaking to Sūta)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
This verse models the Purāṇic path of śravaṇa (devotional listening): a sage asks for precise origins and causes, indicating that clarity about karmic birth, associations, and victory helps the seeker discern dharma under Śiva’s overarching lordship (Pati) and guidance.
Though the verse itself is a narrative question, it reflects the Shiva Purana’s method: understanding events and victories as ultimately dependent on Saguna Śiva’s grace and governance of karma—preparing the listener to receive teachings that culminate in devotion to Śiva, often expressed through Liṅga-upāsanā.
The implied practice is śravaṇa and manana—hearing the sacred account from a qualified narrator (Sūta) and reflecting on it; in Shaiva practice this is commonly paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to internalize the teaching.