Shloka 20
Daśa-Śivāvatāra-Nirūpaṇa
Enumeration of Ten Prime Manifestations of Śiva with Their Śaktis
शांकरा निजधर्मस्थाः शृण्वन्तश्चरितन्त्विदम् । सुखिनः स्युर्विशेषेण शिवभक्ता भवन्तु च
śāṃkarā nijadharmasthāḥ śṛṇvantaścaritantvidam | sukhinaḥ syurviśeṣeṇa śivabhaktā bhavantu ca
शांकरा निजधर्मस्थाः शृण्वन्तश्चरितन्त्विदम् । सुखिनः स्युर्विशेषेण शिवभक्ता भवन्तु च ॥
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Significance: Hearing Śiva-carita while remaining established in svadharma is presented as a means to sukha and deepened Śiva-bhakti—seen in Siddhānta as maturation of the paśu toward receptivity to grace.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It declares the phala-śruti (spiritual fruit) of hearing Śiva’s deeds: when one listens while remaining grounded in dharma, Śiva’s grace matures into happiness and firm Shiva-bhakti, which in Shaiva Siddhanta is a direct means toward liberation.
By praising śravaṇa of Śiva-carita, the verse supports Saguna Śiva devotion—approaching the Lord through His names, forms, and līlās (including Linga worship)—as a practical doorway by which devotion deepens and the mind becomes fit for higher realization.
Regular śravaṇa (listening/recitation) of Shiva Purana kathā with dharmic living; it may be paired with simple Shiva-bhakti supports such as japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and daily remembrance of Śiva.