Shloka 1
दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas
ऋषय ऊचुः । धन्योऽसि कृतकृत्योऽसि जीवितं सफलं तव । यच्छ्रावयसि नस्तात महेश्वरकथां शुभाम्
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | dhanyo'si kṛtakṛtyo'si jīvitaṃ saphalaṃ tava | yacchrāvayasi nastāta maheśvarakathāṃ śubhām
เหล่าฤๅษีกล่าวว่า “ท่านเป็นผู้มีบุญยิ่ง งานที่ควรกระทำก็สำเร็จแล้ว ชีวิตของท่านช่างสัมฤทธิ์ผล โอ้ลูกเอ๋ย เพราะท่านทำให้พวกเราได้สดับเรื่องราวอันเป็นมงคลของมหेशวร (พระศิวะ)”
The sages (ṛṣis) of Naimiṣāraṇya
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not site-specific; it is a meta-affirmation of śiva-kathā as auspicious and life-fulfilling, functioning like a phala-śruti for the discourse.
Significance: Positions śiva-kathā-śravaṇa as a pilgrimage of hearing: it purifies, accrues merit, and invites Śiva’s grace through devotion and right orientation.
Mantra: धन्योऽसि कृतकृत्योऽसि जीवितं सफलं तव । यच्छ्रावयसि नस्तात महेश्वरकथां शुभाम्
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
Offering: dipa
FAQs
It declares that the most fruitful life is one devoted to transmitting Śiva-kathā; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such śravaṇa (devout hearing) purifies the pashu (bound soul) and turns the mind toward Pati (Śiva), making one’s life “kṛtakṛtya” (fulfilled).
By praising the recitation of Maheśvara’s auspicious narrative, it supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva through his names, deeds, and sacred forms (including the Liṅga), where hearing precedes remembrance, worship, and pilgrimage themes central to the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā.
The implied practice is śravaṇa of Śiva-kathā—listening to or reciting Shiva Purana regularly; as a practical takeaway, pair the hearing with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and a simple Liṅga-upacāra (water offering) to stabilize devotion.