Shloka 2
सूत उवाच । शृणुध्वं मुनयः सर्वे सावधानतयाधुना । सर्वं वदामि संप्रीत्या धन्या यूयं शिवव्रताः
sūta uvāca | śṛṇudhvaṃ munayaḥ sarve sāvadhānatayādhunā | sarvaṃ vadāmi saṃprītyā dhanyā yūyaṃ śivavratāḥ
Sūta said: “Listen now, all you sages, with full attentiveness. I shall tell you everything with heartfelt joy. Blessed indeed are you—votaries vowed to Śiva.”
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Introductory assurance before giving nirṇaya and bilva-māhātmya; emphasizes the worthiness of Śiva-vratins as recipients of teaching.
Significance: Frames listening (śravaṇa) as a devotional act; receiving correct doctrine/ritual rulings is itself a form of grace (anugraha) through the guru-paramparā.
FAQs
It establishes śravaṇa (reverent listening) as a primary doorway to Śiva-knowledge, praising those who hold a steady Śiva-vrata—devotion and discipline oriented to Pati (Śiva), leading the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation.
By calling the listeners “Śiva-vratāḥ,” the verse frames the teaching as meant for committed worshippers of Saguna Śiva (including Liṅga-upāsanā), where attentive hearing and faithful practice mature into deeper realization of Śiva’s supreme nature.
The implied practice is disciplined, attentive listening to Śiva-kathā and teachings, accompanied by a Śiva-vrata—regular worship, japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and steady devotional focus.