Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 1
शिवशर्मोवाच । शुक्रसंबंधिनी देवौ कथा श्रावि मया शुभा । यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण प्रीणिते श्रवणे मम
śivaśarmovāca | śukrasaṃbaṃdhinī devau kathā śrāvi mayā śubhā | yasyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa prīṇite śravaṇe mama
சிவசர்மர் கூறினார்—ஓ தேவியே! சுக்ரனுடன் தொடர்புடைய இந்த மங்களமான கதையை நான் உரைத்தேன்; இதை கேட்பதுமட்டுமே போதும், கேட்கும் போதே என் உள்ளம் மகிழ்ச்சியால் நிறைகிறது।
Śivaśarman
Listener: Devī (addressed as ‘O goddess’)
Scene: Śivaśarman addresses a goddess (Devī) in a calm dialogue setting—perhaps an āśrama or shrine—expressing that the very act of narrating/hearing the Śukra-related story brings immediate joy.
FAQs
Sacred listening itself is meritorious—śravaṇa brings immediate inner joy and devotional purification.
The verse opens a new chapter within the Kāśīkhaṇḍa stream; the māhātmya intent remains tied to Kāśī’s culture of sacred narration and merit.
Śravaṇa of śubha-kathā—hearing auspicious Purāṇic accounts as a dharmic practice.