Chapter Two:
Shri Shaunak Ji, with folded hands, said, “O Sut Ji! You are the knower of the supreme truth. By your grace, hearing this divine tale has filled my heart with joy. There is no other means of salvation on this earth as auspicious as this tale. Through your kindness, we have understood this truth. O Muni, please mercifully reveal who among the sinners are purified by this tale and make this world blessed.”
Sut Ji, in a profound tone, replied, “O Muni! Those who are submerged in the ocean of sin, entangled in lust, anger, pride, and greed, even they are purified by reading or listening to the Shiv Puran. Their sins are completely destroyed. In this regard, I will narrate to you a mysterious tale that will stir the heart and ignite the lamp of devotion to Shiva.”
The Tale of Devraj the Brahmin
In ancient times, in a remote town of the Kiratas, there lived a Brahmin named Devraj. He was weak in knowledge, poor, and a seller of liquor, utterly detached from Vedic righteousness. He neither performed daily ablutions nor observed evening prayers; his heart was consumed by the ways of a merchant. He deceived devotees, exploiting their faith. He had killed many innocent people and usurped their wealth. This sinful man never spent even a fraction of his wealth on righteous deeds. Immersed in debauchery and morally corrupt, he lived as if weaving his own path to the abode of Yama.
One day, by divine providence, he wandered into Pratishthanpur (Jhusi, Prayag). There, he beheld an ancient Shiva temple, its atmosphere steeped in mystery and divinity. As the moonlight fell upon the Shivalinga, a group of saints and ascetics had gathered there, their voices resonating with the sweet stream of Shiva’s devotion. Devraj, who until then had been lost in worldly illusions, paused in the temple’s courtyard. The ethereal serenity touched his heart, though he could not grasp its meaning.
As night deepened, a fierce fever gripped Devraj. His body burned as if the fire of his sins was consuming him. Writhing in agony, he lay in a corner of the temple. At that moment, a Brahmin was reciting the Shiv Puran nearby. His voice was as if Lord Shiva Himself was narrating His tale. Devraj, nearing death, began listening to the story. Each word echoed in his heart, as though an unseen force was washing away his sins. The tale spoke of Shiva’s compassionate form, the glory of His trident, and the sanctity of the Rudraksha. Devraj, once distant from righteousness, was unknowingly immersing himself in the nectar of this tale.
For a month, he suffered in the grip of fever. Each night, he listened to the tale, and every word kindled a new light within his soul. Finally, one night, he passed away. His body grew cold, yet his soul remained bound to the echoes of the tale. Yama’s messengers, their faces marked with cruelty and sternness, bound him and took him to Yamapuri. Devraj’s soul trembled with fear and remorse. The path to Yamapuri was shrouded in darkness, and the atmosphere seemed to mock the sinful soul.
But then, a miracle occurred. A radiant light appeared in the sky. From Shivaloka, Lord Shiva’s divine attendants descended. Their bodies were as luminous as camphor, their hands wielding shining tridents, their forms adorned with sacred ash, a symbol of purity. Rudraksha malas around their necks enhanced their divine splendor. Their eyes held compassion, yet their appearance was so formidable that Yama’s messengers quaked in fear. Shiva’s attendants struck and drove away the Yamadutas, freeing Devraj from their grasp.
The divine attendants placed Devraj in a wondrous vimana, adorned with gold and jewels. The vimana soared through the skies toward Mount Kailash. In Yamapuri, chaos erupted. Yama, the guardian of justice, emerged from his abode, stunned by the sight. Seeing Shiva’s attendants, he bowed before them. Through his divine vision, he understood the truth—Devraj had listened to the Shiv Puran, and its power had made him worthy of Shivaloka. Overwhelmed with awe and reverence, Yama asked no questions.
The divine attendants brought Devraj to Kailash. The scene there was otherworldly. The peaks of Mount Kailash gleamed like silver, and the Ganges flowed in a melodious rhythm. There, Lord Shiva, the embodiment of compassion, was seated. The Ganges streamed from His matted locks, and His trident stood as a symbol of cosmic protection. The attendants entrusted Devraj to Shiva’s divine hands. His soul, once burdened by sin, was now liberated by Shiva’s grace, filled with bliss and devotion.
The Tale of Chanchula
Shaunak Ji, with folded hands, said, “O revered Sut Ji! You are all-knowing. This tale has ignited the lamp of Shiva’s devotion in my heart. My mind is filled with wonder and joy. Please narrate another tale that deepens the love for Lord Shiva.”
Sut Ji, with a gentle smile, said, “O Shaunak! Listen now to the tale of Chanchula, which leads one from the world to renunciation.”
In ancient times, in a certain town, there lived a woman named Chanchula. She was beautiful but lost in worldly pleasures and luxuries. Her life was entangled in the web of illusion. One day, by divine chance, she met a devotee of Shiva. The devotee narrated to her the Shiv Puran. Chanchula, who had never known righteousness, was shaken by the tale. Her heart was filled with remorse. She resolved to abandon her sinful life.
She went to a Shiva temple and immersed herself in devotion to Lord Shiva. She made daily ablutions, evening prayers, and worship of Shiva the foundation of her life. Her devotion was so profound that Lord Shiva Himself appeared before her. He blessed her and freed her from the bonds of the world. Chanchula’s heart was filled with renunciation, and she set forth toward Shivaloka.
Sut Ji concluded, “O Shaunak! This tale proves that the listening of the Shiv Puran and devotion to Lord Shiva show even sinners the path to liberation. Whoever hears this tale with faith, the lamp of devotion to Shiva is kindled in their heart, and they are freed from worldly bonds.”
Shaunak Ji bowed at Sut Ji’s feet and said, “O great one! By your grace, my life is blessed. This tale is etched in my heart forever.”
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