Shloka 162
बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्
Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause
य इमं पठतेऽध्यायं यः शृणोति नरः सदा । शिवज्ञानं स लभतेशिवस्य कृपया बुधाः
ya imaṃ paṭhate'dhyāyaṃ yaḥ śṛṇoti naraḥ sadā | śivajñānaṃ sa labhateśivasya kṛpayā budhāḥ
O wise ones, whoever regularly recites this chapter, or continually listens to it, attains true knowledge of Śiva—by the grace of Śiva Himself.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific (sthāla) passage; it states the phalaśruti that Śiva’s grace grants Śiva-jñāna through recitation/hearing.
Significance: Śravaṇa–pāṭha of Śiva-kathā is itself treated as a tīrtha-like practice leading to Śiva-jñāna (liberating insight) by anugraha.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva-realization (śiva-jñāna) is ultimately granted through Śiva’s grace, and that steady śravaṇa (listening) and pāṭha (recitation) prepare the devotee to receive that anugraha.
In the Vidyeśvara/Viśveśvara context, devotion expressed through hearing and reciting sacred teaching supports Saguna worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā), which ripens into inner understanding of Śiva’s true nature through His grace.
Regular recitation or attentive listening to the chapter as a daily vrata-like discipline; it can be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and focused remembrance of Śiva to deepen receptivity to grace.