Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1
कामप्रहारः — The Subduing of Kāma (Desire) / Kāma’s Assault and Its Futility
नारद उवाच । ब्रह्मन्विधे महाभाग किं जातं तदनंतरम् । कथय त्वं प्रसादेन तां कथां पापनाशिनीम्
nārada uvāca | brahmanvidhe mahābhāga kiṃ jātaṃ tadanaṃtaram | kathaya tvaṃ prasādena tāṃ kathāṃ pāpanāśinīm
نارد نے کہا—اے برہمن، اے ودھاتا، اے نہایت بخت ور! اس کے بعد کیا ہوا؟ اپنی عنایت سے وہ گناہ مٹانے والی کہانی مجھے سنائیے۔
Narada
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It establishes śravaṇa (devotional hearing) as a purifying practice: Nārada seeks the next part of the divine narrative, described as pāpanāśinī—capable of dissolving sin and turning the mind toward Śiva-bhakti and liberation.
Though the verse is a request rather than a ritual instruction, it frames the Śaiva method: approaching sacred narration with humility and grace. Such kathā typically culminates in devotion to Saguna Śiva (including Liṅga worship) as a direct support for inner purification.
The implied practice is attentive listening/recitation of Śiva-kathā with reverence (śravaṇa–kīrtana). As a takeaway, one may pair this with daily remembrance of Śiva (e.g., japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to internalize the purifying intent of the narrative.