Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9
शुक्रस्य जठरस्थत्वं तथा मृत्युशमनी-विद्या (Śukra in Śiva’s belly and the death-subduing vidyā)
सनत्कुमार उवाच । शृणु व्यास महाबुद्धे शिवलीलामृतं परम् । धन्यस्त्वं शैवमुख्योसि ममानन्दकरः स्वतः
sanatkumāra uvāca | śṛṇu vyāsa mahābuddhe śivalīlāmṛtaṃ param | dhanyastvaṃ śaivamukhyosi mamānandakaraḥ svataḥ
สันตกุมารกล่าวว่า “โอ้ท่านวยาสผู้มีปัญญายิ่ง จงสดับอมฤตอันสูงสุดแห่งลีลาศิวะเถิด ท่านเป็นผู้มีบุญ เป็นเอกในหมู่ศैวภักตะ และโดยสันดานท่านยังนำความปีติแก่เรา”
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse extols śravaṇa (devotional listening) to Śiva-kathā as “nectar,” indicating that contact with Śiva’s līlā purifies the soul and ripens bhakti; it also honors the qualified listener (Vyāsa) as blessed and foremost among Śaivas.
By praising “Śiva’s līlā,” the verse points to Saguna Śiva—Śiva known through gracious deeds and narratives—whose worship (including Liṅga worship) is strengthened by hearing and contemplating His divine acts with devotion.
A key takeaway is śravaṇa and manana: regularly listen to or recite Śiva Purāṇa/Śiva-kathā with reverence, ideally alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to stabilize bhakti and inner focus.