Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43
शङ्खचूडस्य मायायुद्धं तथा माहेश्वरास्त्रप्रभावः | Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Māyā-Warfare and the Power of the Māheśvara Astra
ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मवर्चस्वी क्षत्रियो विजयी भवेत् । धनाढ्यो वैश्यजश्शूद्रश्शृण्वन् सत्तमतामियात्
brāhmaṇo brahmavarcasvī kṣatriyo vijayī bhavet | dhanāḍhyo vaiśyajaśśūdraśśṛṇvan sattamatāmiyāt
En entendant ce récit sacré, le brāhmaṇa est doté de l’éclat de Brahman ; le kṣatriya devient victorieux ; le vaiśya acquiert la richesse ; et le śūdra, par l’écoute, atteint l’état des plus vertueux—ainsi est proclamé le fruit auspicious de la bhakti envers l’enseignement de Śiva.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the phalaśruti—benefits of hearing—within the Rudrasaṃhitā to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Phalaśruti frames śravaṇa (devout hearing) as a universal upāya: it purifies adhikāra across varṇas and yields both laukika-siddhi (victory, wealth) and sāttvika elevation, preparing the paśu for Śiva’s anugraha.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It teaches that śravaṇa (devout listening) to Śiva’s sacred narration purifies each listener according to their station and capacity, culminating in sattama-bhāva—uplift into the highest goodness—supporting the Shaiva Siddhānta emphasis on grace (anugraha) received through devotion.
The verse functions as a phalaśruti for engaging with Śiva-kathā, a core limb of Saguna Śiva devotion; listening to the deeds and glories of the Lord who is worshipped as the Liṅga strengthens bhakti and prepares the mind for deeper worship and inner surrender.
The direct practice is śravaṇa: regularly hearing the Shiva Purana (especially on auspicious days like Mahāśivarātri), ideally alongside simple Shaiva observances such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and respectful, attentive listening.