Question


Puranas besides Bhagavata & Devi-Bhagavata stating themselves as the foremost or best

Answer


Like Bhagavatams, Shiva Purana also says itself as best among all the Puranas and best remedy in age of Kali. Chapter 1 Glory of Shiva Purana says

कालव्यालमहात्रासविध्वंसकरमुत्तमम्। शैवं पुराणं परमं शिवेनोक्तं पुरा मुने॥८॥

This Purana is the best remedy for the biggest danger like the death, which bites like the snake and is the biggest danger. The Šiva Purana is the best of all the Puranas. O Great ascetic, initially it was spoken by Lord Siva himself.

एतस्मादपरं किञ्चित्पुराणाच्छैवतो मुने! विद्यते न मनःशुद्धयै कलिजानां विशेषतः॥ १०॥

Except the Siva Purana, there is no other remedy in the age of Kali, to purify the minds of the people.

जन्मान्तरे भवेत्पुण्यं महद्यस्य सुधीमतः। तस्य प्रीतिर्भवेत्तत्र महाभाग्यवतो मुने!।॥ ११॥

O Best of the sages, only such of the intelligent person gets an opportunity to listen or read it, who has to his credit the noble deeds of the earlier births.

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि परमं शास्त्रमुत्तमम्। शिवरूपं क्षितौ ज्ञेयं सेवनीयं च सर्वथा॥ १२॥

The Siva Purana is admittedly the best of the Sastras and is also the true form of Siva on earth, therefore, it should be read, narrated, listened studied and well thought over.


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