ईश्वर उवाच । शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि कथां पापप्रणाशनीम् । यां श्रुत्वा मानवो भक्त्या मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः
īśvara uvāca | śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi kathāṃ pāpapraṇāśanīm | yāṃ śrutvā mānavo bhaktyā mucyate sarvapātakaiḥ
Ishvara bersabda: Dengarlah, wahai Dewi; Aku akan menceritakan kisah penghapus dosa. Sesiapa yang mendengarnya dengan penuh khusyuk akan dibebaskan daripada segala dosa.
Śiva (Īśvara)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Devī (Pārvatī)
Scene: Śiva begins the promised tale, declaring it sin-destroying; a devotee who hears it with devotion is freed from all sins—setting a sacred storytelling atmosphere.
Devotional listening to sacred narratives is a recognized means of purification and moral renewal.
The forthcoming legend pertains to a Devi-site within Prabhāsa Kṣetra, introduced as a powerful māhātmya.
Śravaṇa with bhakti (devout hearing) is presented as the effective practice leading to release from sins.