Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
नारदेन तु भक्त्यासौ भव आराधित: पुरा
nāraden tu bhaktyāsau bhava ārādhitaḥ purā | gītena vāditavyena nityaṃ mām anuyāsyasi ||
Vāsudeva nói: “Thuở trước, hiền giả Nārada đã chí thành thờ phụng Bhava (Śiva). Hài lòng vì lòng sùng kính ấy, Bhava ban ân: ‘Bằng lời ca và nhạc khí, ngươi sẽ mãi theo ta và xướng dương ta.’”
वासुदेव उवाच
Devotion (bhakti) can be authentically expressed through disciplined praise—especially sacred song and music—and such devotional practice becomes a lifelong mode of remembrance and service to the deity.
Vāsudeva recounts an earlier episode: Nārada once worshipped Śiva (Bhava) with devotion, and Śiva, pleased, granted him a boon that Nārada would always follow and honor him through singing and instrumental performance.