Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3
मेनावरलाभवर्णनम् — Description of Menā’s Attainment of Boons
and the worship leading to Umā’s advent
ब्रह्मोवाच । विप्रवर्य सुतश्रेष्ठ शृणु तच्चरितं महत् । प्रणम्य शंकरं भक्त्या वच्मि भक्तिविवर्द्धनम्
brahmovāca | vipravarya sutaśreṣṭha śṛṇu taccaritaṃ mahat | praṇamya śaṃkaraṃ bhaktyā vacmi bhaktivivarddhanam
બ્રહ્માએ કહ્યું—હે વિપ્રવર્ય, હે સુતશ્રેષ્ઠ! તે મહાન ચરિત્ર સાંભળો. ભક્તિપૂર્વક શંકરને પ્રણામ કરીને, હું ભક્તિવર્ધક વચન કહું છું।
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Type: stotra
FAQs
It establishes śravaṇa (devotional listening) and praṇāma (reverent bowing) to Śiva as the gateway to receiving a sacred narrative that nourishes and strengthens bhakti, leading the seeker toward Śiva’s grace.
By naming Śaṅkara and emphasizing bowing with devotion before teaching, the verse highlights Saguna-oriented worship—approaching Śiva as the benevolent Lord who is personally accessible through reverence, praise, and attentive listening to His līlā and teachings (often centered on Liṅga-devotion in the Purāṇa’s devotional frame).
Offer praṇāma to Śiva and practice śravaṇa—listen to Śiva-kathā with focused mind and devotion; as a simple complement, one may mentally repeat the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while listening to deepen bhakti.