Shloka 1
पुराणश्रवणप्रस्तावः
Prologue to the Recitation of the Śaiva Purāṇa
व्यास उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचः सौतं प्रोचुस्ते परमर्षयः । वेदांतसारसर्वस्वं पुराणं श्रावयाद्भुतम्
vyāsa uvāca | ityākarṇya vacaḥ sautaṃ procuste paramarṣayaḥ | vedāṃtasārasarvasvaṃ purāṇaṃ śrāvayādbhutam
Vyāsa berkata: Setelah mendengar kata-kata Sūta demikian, para resi agung itu berkata kepadanya: “Mohon bacakan kepada kami Purāṇa yang menakjubkan itu, yang merupakan keseluruhan inti—sari pati Vedānta.”
Vyasa
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It establishes śravaṇa (devout listening) as a primary doorway to grace: the sages seek the Shiva Purāṇa as Vedānta’s essence, implying that liberation is supported not only by abstract philosophy but by hearing Shiva-centered truth that turns the mind toward Pati (Lord Shiva).
By calling the Purāṇa “wondrous” and “the essence of Vedānta,” the verse frames Saguna narration—names, forms, and deeds of Shiva (including Linga worship taught in the Vidyeśvara/Viśveśvara section)—as a valid and powerful means to realize the highest reality.
The implied practice is disciplined śravaṇa of Shiva Purāṇa kathā (listening/recitation) with faith; as a practical takeaway, one may pair listening with mental japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady attention and devotion.