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
其间，在那里发生了一件至为殊胜之事。诸位最上等的二生者啊，请聆听；我将如实依我所闻而宣说。
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.