Shloka 65
Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā
The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha
इदं यः शृणुयाद्भक्त्या श्रावयेद्वा समाहितः । च्यवते न स्वधर्मात्स परत्र लभते गतिम्
idaṃ yaḥ śṛṇuyādbhaktyā śrāvayedvā samāhitaḥ | cyavate na svadharmātsa paratra labhate gatim
ഇത് ഭക്തിയോടെ ശ്രവിക്കുന്നവൻ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഏകാഗ്രചിത്തനായി മറ്റുള്ളവർക്കു ശ്രവിപ്പിക്കുന്നവൻ, തന്റെ സ്വധർമ്മത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ച്യുതനാകുകയില്ല; പരലോകത്തിൽ ശുഭഗതി പ്രാപിക്കും.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Significance: Śravaṇa (devout listening) and śrāvaṇa (enabling recitation) of Śaiva kathā stabilizes svadharma and becomes a cause for śivagati (auspicious post-mortem course), functioning as a grace-bearing upāya for the bound soul.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It declares the phala (spiritual fruit) of śravaṇa and pravacana: devoted listening or enabling recitation stabilizes a seeker in svadharma and leads to an auspicious gati after death—i.e., progress toward Shiva’s grace rather than moral or spiritual decline.
In the Shiva Purana, hearing and propagating Shiva’s narratives and praises is itself a form of Saguna-bhakti (devotion to Shiva with attributes). Such devotional engagement supports dharmic living and ripens the mind for deeper worship—whether through Linga-puja, mantra, or contemplation—culminating in Shiva’s favorable gati.
The implied practice is regular śravaṇa (listening) and śrāvana/paṭhana (arranging recitation/reading) with samāhita-citta (focused mind). A practical takeaway is to schedule Shiva Purana recitation—especially on Mahashivratri or Mondays—paired with simple devotion such as japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”