Shloka 1
शिवपुराण-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Śiva Purāṇa) / Śivapurāṇa Māhātmya
सूत उवाच । साधुपृष्टं साधवो वस्त्रैलोक्यहितकारकम् । गुरुं स्मृत्वा भवत्स्नेहाद्वक्ष्ये तच्छृणुतादरात्
sūta uvāca | sādhupṛṣṭaṃ sādhavo vastrailokyahitakārakam | guruṃ smṛtvā bhavatsnehādvakṣye tacchṛṇutādarāt
Sūta said: “O virtuous ones, you have asked well—your question is indeed beneficial to the welfare of the three worlds. Remembering my Guru, and moved by your affectionate regard, I shall explain it; listen with reverence.”
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It establishes the Shaiva discipline of śravaṇa (reverent listening) and guru-smaraṇa (remembering the teacher) as the proper gateway to receiving Shiva-tattva teachings that benefit all beings.
Before describing Linga-worship and other Saguna practices, the text emphasizes right inquiry and respectful reception of instruction—showing that outer worship becomes spiritually fruitful when guided by authentic teaching.
The implied practice is devotional listening (śravaṇa) with reverence, preceded by remembrance of the Guru; this is a foundational sādhanā that supports later disciplines like mantra-japa and Linga-pūjā.