Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3
शिवतेजसः समुद्रे बालरूपप्रादुर्भावः (Śiva’s Tejas Manifesting as a Child in the Ocean)
सनत्कुमार उवाच । शृणु तात महाप्राज्ञ शिवलीलां महाद्भुताम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा श्रद्धया भक्तो योगिनां गतिमाप्नुयात्
sanatkumāra uvāca | śṛṇu tāta mahāprājña śivalīlāṃ mahādbhutām | yacchrutvā śraddhayā bhakto yogināṃ gatimāpnuyāt
ਸਨਤਕੁਮਾਰ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਹੇ ਮਹਾਪ੍ਰਾਜ्ञ ਤਾਤਾ, ਸ਼ਿਵ ਦੀ ਅਤਿ ਅਦਭੁਤ ਲੀਲਾ ਸੁਣ। ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਰਧਾ ਨਾਲ ਸੁਣ ਕੇ ਭਗਤ ਯੋਗੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਪਰਮ ਗਤੀ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Śiva-līlā-śravaṇa (hearing the Lord’s deeds) is presented as a soteriological act: it purifies and elevates the listener toward the yogic goal (yogināṃ gati).
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that śravaṇa (devotional listening) of Śiva’s līlā, when done with śraddhā, becomes a direct means to inner elevation—granting the same lofty spiritual destination associated with accomplished yogins.
By praising “Śiva-līlā,” the verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śiva known through compassionate acts and sacred narratives—supporting devotional approaches such as Linga worship where faith-filled remembrance and hearing deepen communion with Śiva.
The implied practice is regular śravaṇa and smaraṇa: hearing Śiva’s sacred accounts with faith and devotion, ideally supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a steady contemplative discipline.