Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3
शङ्खचूडवधकथनम् / The Account of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Slaying
तच्छंभुचरितं दिव्यं पवित्रं पापनाशनम् । शृणु व्यास सुसंप्रीत्या वच्मि सुस्नेहतस्तव
tacchaṃbhucaritaṃ divyaṃ pavitraṃ pāpanāśanam | śṛṇu vyāsa susaṃprītyā vacmi susnehatastava
હે વ્યાસ! તે દિવ્ય, પવિત્ર અને પાપનાશક શંભુચરિત્રને પરમ પ્રીતિથી સાંભળ; તારા પ્રત્યે સ્નેહથી હું તેને વર્ણવું છું.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account, addressing Vyāsa within the narration)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: A kathā-preface praising Śambhu-carita as divya, pavitra, and pāpa-nāśana—typical Purāṇic framing that the narrative itself functions as purifier.
Significance: Encourages devotional śravaṇa with joy (susaṃprīti), presenting Śiva-kathā as a means to inner cleansing and auspicious destiny through grace.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It establishes śravaṇa (devotional listening) of Śiva’s deeds as a purifying practice: the Śambhu-carita is called divine and “sin-destroying,” indicating inner cleansing and movement toward grace (anugraha) in a Shaiva Siddhānta frame.
By praising Śambhu’s “carita” (manifest deeds), it supports Saguna devotion—approaching Shiva through narrated forms, actions, and līlā—an entry point that naturally complements Linga-worship where the devotee contemplates Shiva’s presence through sacred symbols and stories.
Regular recitation and attentive listening to Śiva Purāṇa kathā with devotion (śraddhā) is implied; it can be paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and simple purity disciplines (e.g., Tripuṇḍra/bhasma and Rudrākṣa) as supportive Shaiva practices.