Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
नारदेन तु भक्त्यासौ भव आराधित: पुरा
nāraden tu bhaktyāsau bhava ārādhitaḥ purā | gītena vāditavyena nityaṃ mām anuyāsyasi ||
Vāsudeva disse: “Outrora, o sábio Nārada adorou Bhava (Śiva) com profunda devoção. Satisfeito com essa entrega, Bhava concedeu-lhe uma dádiva: ‘Por meio do canto e da música dos instrumentos, tu me seguirás e me proclamarás para sempre.’”
वासुदेव उवाच
Devotion (bhakti) can be authentically expressed through disciplined praise—especially sacred song and music—and such devotional practice becomes a lifelong mode of remembrance and service to the deity.
Vāsudeva recounts an earlier episode: Nārada once worshipped Śiva (Bhava) with devotion, and Śiva, pleased, granted him a boon that Nārada would always follow and honor him through singing and instrumental performance.