Shloka 1
देवस्तुतिः (Deva-stuti) — “Hymn of the Devas / Divine Praise”
नारद उवाच । विधे प्राज्ञ महाधीमन्वद मे वदतां वर । ततः परं किमभवच्चरितं विष्णुसद्गुरो
nārada uvāca | vidhe prājña mahādhīmanvada me vadatāṃ vara | tataḥ paraṃ kimabhavaccaritaṃ viṣṇusadguro
Nārada berkata: “Wahai Vidhe (Brahmā), yang bijaksana dan berakal agung, terbaik antara para penutur, khabarkanlah kepadaku: selepas itu, apakah lagi yang berlaku dalam riwayat suci ini, di bawah bimbingan sejati Viṣṇu, sang guru mulia?”
Nārada
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights śravaṇa (devout listening) and humble inquiry as a primary doorway to grace—Nārada seeks the next stage of the sacred narrative from Brahmā, showing that right knowledge arises through proper transmission in the Shaiva tradition.
Though the verse is a question rather than a ritual instruction, it frames the Purāṇic method: hearing the Lord’s līlā and teachings prepares the mind for Saguna worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) and gradually matures devotion toward the highest understanding of Śiva.
The implied practice is attentive listening and recitation of sacred narration (śravaṇa–kīrtana) in a guru-guided setting, which complements mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī) and daily Śiva-smaraṇa.