Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6
शिवविहारवर्णनम् (Śivavihāra-varṇana) — “Description of Śiva’s Divine Pastimes/Sojourn”
ब्रह्मोवाच । चरितं शृणु वक्ष्यामि शशिमौलेस्तु नारद । गुहजन्मकथां दिव्यां तारकासुरसद्वधम्
brahmovāca | caritaṃ śṛṇu vakṣyāmi śaśimaulestu nārada | guhajanmakathāṃ divyāṃ tārakāsurasadvadham
梵天说道：噢，那罗陀，且听我说——我今将宣说月冠之主（湿婆）的圣行：古诃降生的神圣因缘，以及对阿修罗塔罗迦苏罗的正义诛灭。
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Programmatic announcement of the kathā: Guha’s birth leading to the righteous slaying of Tārakāsura—restoration of cosmic balance.
Significance: Śravaṇa of ‘śaśimauli’ carita is meritorious; reinforces faith in Śiva’s protective governance and the inevitability of dharma’s victory.
FAQs
It formally begins Brahmā’s sacred narration of Śiva’s līlā, framing Skanda’s advent and Tārakāsura’s fall as a divine restoration of dharma—showing Pati (Śiva) protecting the cosmos when adharma grows strong.
By praising Śiva as “śaśimauli” (Moon-crested), the verse points to Saguna Śiva—worshipped through name, form, and līlā. Such narratives support devotion to the Liṅga as the accessible presence of the same Supreme who performs these saving acts.
The immediate practice is śravaṇa (devotional listening) of Śiva-kathā. As a takeaway, one may pair this with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” before hearing/reading the Kumāra-khaṇḍa to steady the mind in bhakti.