Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
भर्तारं परिपूर्णं च सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम् । चामरासक्तहस्ताश्च देवीं देवं सिषेविरे । ततः प्रियाः कथा वृत्ता विनोदाय महेशयोः । त्राणाय च नृणां लोके ये शिवं शरणं गताः
bhartāraṃ paripūrṇaṃ ca sarvalokamaheśvaram | cāmarāsaktahastāśca devīṃ devaṃ siṣevire | tataḥ priyāḥ kathā vṛttā vinodāya maheśayoḥ | trāṇāya ca nṛṇāṃ loke ye śivaṃ śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ
With their hands engaged in fanning with chāmara yak-tail whisks, they attended upon the Goddess and the God—upon that perfect Lord, the Great Sovereign of all the worlds. Thereafter, a beloved discourse unfolded for the delight of Mahesha and His Consort, and for the protection of people in the world—of those who have taken refuge in Śiva.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: The verse explicitly frames the ensuing kathā as ‘trāṇa’ (protection/deliverance) for those who take refuge in Śiva—functionally akin to tīrtha-māhātmya in soteriological intent.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
Offering: dipa
FAQs
It frames the coming narrative as both līlā (a delightful, sacred discourse of Shiva–Shakti) and upāya (a means of protection and uplift) for devotees who practice śaraṇāgati—taking refuge in Pati, Shiva, the complete Lord of all worlds.
By praising Shiva as “sarvaloka-maheśvara” and describing personal attendance to the Divine Couple, the verse emphasizes Saguna devotion—serving and contemplating Shiva (including through Linga worship) as the accessible form through which grace and protection flow to the surrendered devotee.
The practical takeaway is sevā and śaraṇāgati: approach Shiva with devoted service and remembrance—such as daily Linga pūjā with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—cultivating surrender as the inner discipline.