भैरवावतारवर्णनम् (Bhairavāvatāra-varṇanam) — “Description of the Descent/Manifestation of Bhairava”
अत्रेतिहासं वक्ष्येऽहं परमर्षे पुरातनम् । शृणु तं श्रद्धया तात परमं ज्ञानकारणम्
atretihāsaṃ vakṣye'haṃ paramarṣe purātanam | śṛṇu taṃ śraddhayā tāta paramaṃ jñānakāraṇam
ஓ பரமரிஷியே, இங்கே நான் ஒரு பழமையான புனித வரலாற்றை உரைப்பேன். அன்புக் குழந்தையே, பக்தியுடன் கேள்; இது உயர்ந்த ஞானத்தின் காரணமாகி ஆன்மாவை சிவன் நோக்கி திருப்பும்.
Suta Goswami
It declares that hearing an ancient Shiva-centered sacred narrative with śraddhā becomes a direct means to awaken jñāna—right understanding that turns the bound soul (paśu) toward the liberating Lord (Pati).
By emphasizing faithful listening to Shiva’s sacred accounts, it supports bhakti-based approach to Saguna Shiva—where stories and praises naturally mature into reverence for Shiva’s forms, including Linga worship.
Śravaṇa (devotional listening/recitation) is implied: regularly hear or chant the Shiva Purana with faith, ideally alongside simple Shaiva observances like mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a sattvic, focused mind.