Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24
शिवपुत्रजननवर्णनम् — Description of the Birth/Manifestation of Śiva’s Son
तद्वृत्तांतमशेषं च वर्णयिष्ये मुनेऽग्रतः । इदानीं शृणु सुप्रीत्या गुहोत्पत्तिं वदाम्यहम्
tadvṛttāṃtamaśeṣaṃ ca varṇayiṣye mune'grataḥ | idānīṃ śṛṇu suprītyā guhotpattiṃ vadāmyaham
Ô sage, je vais te rapporter entièrement ce récit, en ta présence. Écoute maintenant avec une joyeuse dévotion : je vais dire l’origine de Guha (Skanda).
Suta Goswami
Sthala Purana: Programmatic narration cue introducing Guha/Skanda’s origin; no specific jyotirliṅga-sthala is named in this verse.
FAQs
It sanctifies śravaṇa (devotional listening) as a direct means to receive Shaiva grace: the narrator invites the sage to listen with suprīti (joyful devotion), indicating that the story’s fruit arises from the listener’s bhakti and receptivity to Shiva’s divine līlā.
By introducing Guha’s origin as a sacred narrative, it points to Saguna Shiva’s compassionate self-manifestation through divine family-līlās; such kathā supports Linga-worship by deepening devotion, making the formless (Nirguṇa) approachable through form (Saguṇa) and story.
Devotional śravaṇa: hear the Purana with focused mind and reverence—ideally preceded by simple Shaiva observance such as mentally repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady attention and receive the narrative as worship.