Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 13
अवंतीस्थ-ब्राह्मणकथा तथा तृतीय-ज्योतिर्लिङ्गोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावना
Avanti Brahmin Narrative and Prelude to the Third Jyotirliṅga
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र यज्जातं वृत्तमुत्तमम् । श्रूयतां तद्द्विजश्रेष्ठाः कथयामि यथाश्रुतम्
etasminnantare tatra yajjātaṃ vṛttamuttamam | śrūyatāṃ taddvijaśreṣṭhāḥ kathayāmi yathāśrutam
Trong lúc ấy, tại nơi đó đã xảy ra một sự việc tối thượng. Hỡi các bậc Nhị-sinh ưu tú, xin hãy lắng nghe; ta sẽ thuật lại đúng như điều ta đã được nghe truyền.
Suta Goswami
FAQs
It highlights śravaṇa (devotional listening) as a primary doorway to grace: sacred history about Shiva, preserved “as heard,” becomes a means for purification and steady devotion that leads toward liberation.
As an introductory narrative bridge, it prepares the listener for the forthcoming account—typically connected to Shiva’s manifest (saguṇa) līlā and sacred sites—through which the Linga’s glory and the devotee’s faith are established.
The implied practice is attentive listening to Shiva-kathā with reverence (śravaṇa), ideally in a pure setting—often paired in tradition with mantra-japa (e.g., “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and remembrance of Shiva while hearing.