Shloka 3
Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ
Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship
सूत उवाच । साधु पृष्टमृषिश्रेष्ठाः श्रूयतां कथयामि वः । चरित्रं शांकरं रम्यं शृण्वतां भुक्तिमुक्तिदम्
sūta uvāca | sādhu pṛṣṭamṛṣiśreṣṭhāḥ śrūyatāṃ kathayāmi vaḥ | caritraṃ śāṃkaraṃ ramyaṃ śṛṇvatāṃ bhuktimuktidam
சூதர் கூறினார்—முனிவர்களில் சிறந்தவர்களே, நீங்கள் நல்ல கேள்வி கேட்டீர்கள்; கேளுங்கள், நான் உங்களுக்குச் சொல்கிறேன். சங்கரனின் இன்பமிகு திருக்கதை, பக்தியுடன் கேட்போர்க்கு இன்பமும் முக்தியும் அளிக்கும்.
Suta Goswami (Sūta)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Śravaṇa (devout hearing) of Śiva-caritra is presented as a direct upāya yielding both bhukti (worldly well-being) and mukti (liberation), aligning with Purāṇic śravaṇa-kīrtana as a pilgrimage-in-itself.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It declares śravaṇa (devout listening) to Śiva’s sacred deeds as a grace-bearing practice: Shiva-kathā purifies the bound soul (paśu) and, by Śiva’s compassion, leads from worldly well-being (bhukti) toward liberation (mukti).
By praising “Śāṃkara-caritra,” the verse supports Saguna Śiva devotion—approaching the Supreme through His narratable forms, names, and deeds—often centered in Kotirudra contexts on Jyotirliṅga glory and temple-pilgrimage faith.
The implied practice is Shiva-kathā-śravaṇa: regularly listening to or reciting Śiva Purāṇa narratives with devotion; it can be paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and simple worship (bhasma/rudrākṣa if one follows those observances).