Sut Ji describes the glory of Shiva Purana.
Shri Shaunak Ji asked, O great sage Sut Ji, you know all the principles. Please describe the importance of Puranas. How does the wisdom gained from devotion, along with knowledge and detachment, increase? And how do saints overcome their lust, anger, etc. vices? In this Kaliyug, all living beings have become demonic. So kindly tell me such a means, which is beneficial and auspicious and has purity. Lord, it should be such a means by which a man gets purified and that man with a pure heart attains ‘Shiva’ forever.
Shri Sut ji replied, Shaunak ji, you are blessed because you have immense love and desire to listen to the Purana-Katha. That is why I am telling you the story of the best scripture. Son! The divine scripture, which is full of complete principles that increases devotion and satisfy Lord Shiva, is like nectar – ‘Shiva Purana’. Lord Shiva himself had preached it in the past. Gurudev Vyas has respectfully composed this Purana after receiving the teachings of Sanatkumar Muni. This Purana is the ultimate means of benefiting humans in Kaliyug.
‘Shiva Purana’ is the best scripture. All the people on this earth should understand the vast form of Lord Shiva. Reading and listening to it is the ultimate means. It gives the desired fruits. Through this, man becomes sinless, and after enjoying all the pleasures in this world, he finally attains Shivaloka.
There are twenty-four thousand verses in ‘Shiva Purana’, which has seven Samhitas. Shiva Purana provides the path to the Supreme God. Man should listen to it with complete devotion and restraint. The person who reads or recites it with love every day is undoubtedly a virtuous soul.
Lord Shiva is pleased with that learned man and gives him his abode. People who worship Shiv Puran with respect every day, after enjoying all the pleasures of the world, attain the position of Lord Shiva. They always remain happy.
Shiva Purana is everything about Lord Shiva. It should be read as attaining happiness in this world and the next. This pure Shiva Purana is the giver of all four aims of life: Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. Therefore, it should always be heard and read with love.
Devraj attains Shivaloka
Shri Shaunak ji said- You are blessed. Sut ji! You are an expert in the element of charity. You
He has been kind to us and has told us this wonderful and divine story. On the earth, there is no place like this story.
There is no other means of welfare. We have understood this by your grace. Sut ji! Which sinners are purified by this story? Kindly tell them and make this world happy.
Sutji said- Muni, those people who are constantly immersed in sins, misconduct, lust, anger, pride and greed, they also become pure by reading or listening to Shiv Puran and their sins are completely destroyed. I will tell you a story in this regard.
Story of Devraj Brahmin
It is a matter of a long time ago- a Brahmin named Devraj lived in the city of Kiratas. He was weak in knowledge, poor, a juice seller and was averse to Vedic religion. He did not bathe or do Sandhya and his prostitution was increasing. He used to cheat the devotees. He killed many people and usurped their wealth. That sinner did not spend even a little money in religious work. He was a prostitute-goer and had corrupt conduct.
One day, while wandering, he reached Pratishthanpur (Jhusi-Prayag) by chance. There he saw a Shiva temple, where many sages and saints had gathered. Devraj stayed there. There he got fever at night and started suffering a lot. There a Brahmin was narrating the story of Lord Shiva Purana. Devraj, who was suffering from fever, kept listening to the story of Shiva from the mouth of the Brahmin. After a month, Devraj died in a feverish state. Yamraj’s messengers tied him up and took him to Yampuri. Then Lord Shiva’s councillors arrived from Shivalok. They were bright like camphor. Trishul in his hand, ash on the whole body and Rudraksha garland around his neck were enhancing the beauty of his body. They freed Devraj from the clutches of Yamraj’s messengers by beating them and when they started taking him to Mount Kailash in their wonderful plane, there was an uproar in Yampuri, hearing which Yamraj came out of his palace. Dharamraj worshipped these messengers who appeared like Rudras in person and understood the whole matter through his wisdom. Due to fear, he did not ask anything from Lord Shiva’s messengers. After that, Shiva’s messengers took Devraj with them to Kailash.
And reaching there he handed over the Brahmin to the compassionate Lord Shiva. Shaunak ji said- O great Sut ji! You are omniscient. I am blessed by your kindness. My mind is filled with joy after hearing this story. So please tell me another story which increases the love for Lord Shiva.
