Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38
शङ्खचूडस्य मायायुद्धं तथा माहेश्वरास्त्रप्रभावः | Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Māyā-Warfare and the Power of the Māheśvara Astra
इति प्रोक्तं महेशस्य चरितं प्रमुदावहम् । सर्वदुःखहरं श्रीदं सर्वकामप्रपूरकम्
iti proktaṃ maheśasya caritaṃ pramudāvaham | sarvaduḥkhaharaṃ śrīdaṃ sarvakāmaprapūrakam
इति महेशस्य प्रमुदावहं चरितं प्रोक्तं—सर्वदुःखहरं श्रीदं सर्वकामप्रपूरकम्।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: This is a phalaśruti-style closure praising Maheśa-carita as joy-giving and sorrow-destroying; it is not anchored to a specific Jyotirliṅga locale.
Significance: Positions śravaṇa/paṭhana of Śiva-carita as a pilgrimage-equivalent merit: duḥkha-nivṛtti, śrī-prāpti, and kāma-siddhi (within dharma).
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It declares that Śiva’s carita (sacred narrative) is itself a source of ānanda and grace: by hearing and internalizing it with devotion, the devotee’s sorrow (duḥkha) is removed and auspicious well-being (śrī) arises, culminating in upliftment toward liberation.
By praising Maheśa’s narrated deeds, the text points to Saguna Śiva as approachable through kīrtana and śravaṇa; such devotion naturally supports Liṅga-upāsanā, where the devotee contemplates Śiva’s presence and receives His anugraha (grace).
Śravaṇa (devotional listening) and pāṭha (recitation) of Śiva-carita are implied; a practical takeaway is to read or hear this section with the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering bilva leaves or bhasma as simple supports to devotion.