Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3
कुमाराद्भुतचरितवर्णनम् — Description of Kumāra’s Wondrous Deeds
स विप्रः प्राप्य निकटं कार्त्तिकस्य प्रसन्नधीः । स्वाभिप्रायं समाचख्यौ सुप्रणम्य शुभैः स्तवैः
sa vipraḥ prāpya nikaṭaṃ kārttikasya prasannadhīḥ | svābhiprāyaṃ samācakhyau supraṇamya śubhaiḥ stavaiḥ
那位婆罗门怀着宁静澄明之心走近迦尔蒂凯亚，先深深顶礼，以吉祥赞颂之偈歌咏称扬，随后坦然陈明自己的来意。
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches the Shaiva ethic of approaching the divine with prasanna-dhī (a purified, peaceful intellect): first reverence and stotra, then one’s request—showing humility, devotion, and inner readiness to receive grace.
The pattern mirrors Saguna worship central to the Shiva Purana—pranama and stuti prior to artha (petition). Whether before the Shiva-linga or a Shaiva deity like Kārttikeya, devotion expressed through hymns becomes the doorway to divine response.
Begin worship with pranama and śubha-stava (auspicious praise), steady the mind into calm clarity, and only then state the sankalpa (intention)—a practical template that can accompany japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” or any Shaiva prayer.