Shloka 9
शिवपुराण-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Śiva Purāṇa) / Śivapurāṇa Māhātmya
तावद्यमभटाः क्रूराः संचरिष्यंति निर्भयाः । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो
tāvadyamabhaṭāḥ krūrāḥ saṃcariṣyaṃti nirbhayāḥ | yāvacchivapurāṇaṃ hi nodeṣyati jagatyaho
जोपर्यंत या जगात शिवपुराण उदय पावून प्रकट होत नाही, तोपर्यंत यमाचे क्रूर दूत निर्भयपणे जगात संचार करतील।
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahākāla
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: By association of theme (Yama-bhaṭa vs Śiva’s supremacy over death): Mahākāla is famed as the lord who subdues Time/Death; devotees take refuge in Śiva to transcend fear of Yama’s attendants.
Significance: Protection from fear of death and assurance of Śiva’s guardianship; cultivation of vairāgya and bhakti through Mahākāla-darśana.
Role: liberating
Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga moral decline implied; fear of Yama’s agents symbolizes karmic retribution operating unchecked until Śiva’s grace-teaching spreads.
FAQs
It declares the transformative power of Śiva-kathā: when the Śiva Purāṇa is revealed, devotion to Śiva awakens, fear of death diminishes, and the authority of punitive forces (Yama’s agents) no longer dominates the devotee’s inner life.
The Śiva Purāṇa is a primary scripture extolling Saguna Śiva worship—especially the Śiva-liṅga—through which the devotee takes refuge in Śiva as Pati (the Lord). Such refuge is portrayed as stronger than fear of Yama and the bonds of karma.
The implied practice is śravaṇa (devotional listening) and pāṭha (recitation) of the Śiva Purāṇa with bhakti, supported by Śiva-upāsanā such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular liṅga-pūjā.