Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1
स्वप्नवर्णनपूर्वकं संक्षेपशिवचरितवर्णनम् / Dream-Portents and a Concise Account of Śiva’s Career
नारद उवाच । विधे तात त्वया शैववर प्राज्ञाद्भुता कथा । वर्णिता करुणां कृत्वा प्रीतिर्मे वर्द्धिताधिकम्
nārada uvāca | vidhe tāta tvayā śaivavara prājñādbhutā kathā | varṇitā karuṇāṃ kṛtvā prītirme varddhitādhikam
那罗陀说道：“噢，维达塔（梵天），慈爱的父尊——你以悲悯之心，为我宣说这最殊胜、最奇妙、充满湿婆派智慧的圣传。聆听之后，我的虔敬与爱敬之情愈加增长。”
Narada
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It teaches that Śaiva kathā heard from a compassionate, realized teacher awakens and intensifies prīti—devotional love—leading the seeker toward Shiva-bhakti and inner purification.
By affirming that Śaiva narratives increase devotion, it supports Saguna upāsanā—loving worship of Lord Shiva (including Linga-worship)—as a valid and powerful path for the heart to mature toward realization.
Śravaṇa (devotional listening) of Shiva Purana kathā is implied; as a takeaway, one may pair it with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to stabilize the growing devotion.