Shloka 1
Gautama–Ahalyā-Upākhyāna: Durbhikṣa, Tapas, and Varuṇa’s Boon (गौतमाहल्योपाख्यानम्)
सूत उवाच । श्रूयतामृषयः श्रेष्ठाः कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम् । कथयामि यथा व्यासात्सद्गुरोश्च श्रुता मया
sūta uvāca | śrūyatāmṛṣayaḥ śreṣṭhāḥ kathāṃ pāpapraṇāśinīm | kathayāmi yathā vyāsātsadgurośca śrutā mayā
سوت نے کہا—اے برگزیدہ رشیو! گناہوں کو مٹانے والی یہ مقدس کہانی سنو۔ میں اسے ویسے ہی بیان کرتا ہوں جیسے میں نے ویاس اور اپنے سَدگُرو سے سنا ہے۔
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse establishes śravaṇa (devotional listening) to Shiva-kathā as purifying and sin-destroying, and it emphasizes authenticity through guru-paramparā—knowledge received from Vyāsa and a realized teacher.
By inviting the sages to hear a ‘pāpa-praṇāśinī’ kathā, Sūta frames the coming narration as an act of devotion to Saguna Shiva—where hearing the Lord’s līlā, tīrtha, and Jyotirliṅga glories becomes a form of worship comparable to ritual reverence.
The implied practice is regular śravaṇa of Shiva Purana in a reverent setting (satsanga), ideally under guidance of a sadguru; this can be paired with mental japa of the Pañcākṣarī ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’ while listening.