Shloka 1
मुनय ऊचुः । व्यासशिष्य महाभाग सूत पौराणिकोत्तम । अपरं श्रोतुमिच्छामः किमप्याख्यानमीशितुः
munaya ūcuḥ | vyāsaśiṣya mahābhāga sūta paurāṇikottama | aparaṃ śrotumicchāmaḥ kimapyākhyānamīśituḥ
聖仙たちは言った。「幸いなるスータよ、ヴィヤーサの弟子にして、プラーナに通暁する者の中の最勝者よ。われらは主イーシャ（Īśa）に関わる、さらに別の聖なる物語を聞きたい。」
The sages (Munis) of Naimiṣāraṇya
Tattva Level: pashu
Significance: Śravaṇa (reverent hearing) of Īśa-kathā is framed as a direct means to loosen pāśa (bondage) through right knowledge and devotion.
FAQs
It shows the ideal disciple-attitude of śravaṇa (reverent listening): the sages approach the authentic transmitter of tradition (Sūta, Vyāsa’s disciple) and seek further kathā of Īśa, indicating that liberation-oriented knowledge begins with devoted hearing of Śiva’s glory and teachings.
By requesting an “ākhyāna of Īśa,” the sages seek narrations that typically reveal Śiva’s accessible (saguṇa) grace through forms, līlās, and worship—often culminating in practical devotion such as Liṅga-upāsanā and remembrance of Śiva’s names.
The implied practice is śravaṇa and smaraṇa—listening to Śiva-kathā from a qualified teacher and meditating on Īśa; this commonly supports mantra-japa (e.g., pañcākṣarī “oṁ namaḥ śivāya”) though the verse itself primarily emphasizes sacred listening.