Shloka 102

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

The Hunter’s Account and the Efficacy of the Śivarātri Observance

Devanagari script

एतत्सर्वं समाख्यातं शिवरात्रिव्रतं शुभम् । व्रतराजेति विख्यातं किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि

Transliteration

etatsarvaṃ samākhyātaṃ śivarātrivrataṃ śubham | vratarājeti vikhyātaṃ kimanyacchrotumicchasi

Translation

So habe ich dir das glückverheißende Śivarātri-Gelübde vollständig dargelegt, berühmt als der König der Gelübde. Was möchtest du noch hören?

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समाख्यातम्: has been explained
• समाख्यातम्: क्रिया (Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘has been explained’

• शिवरात्रिव्रतम्: Śivarātri vow
• शिवरात्रिव्रतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + रात्रि + व्रत (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• व्रतराज: king of vows
• व्रतराज: सम्बोधन/विशेष्य (Appositive title)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत + राज (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘व्रतानां राजा’ (genitive sense); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (उद्धृत-नाम)

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• विख्यातम्: is renowned
• विख्यातम्: क्रिया (Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is renowned’

• किम्: what
• किम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अन्यत्: other
• अन्यत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; ‘to hear’

• इच्छसि: you wish
• इच्छसि: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Closing colophon-like teacher’s line: the Śivarātri vrata has been explained and is famed as ‘vratarāja’; no Jyotirliṅga localization.

Significance: Encourages śravaṇa (hearing) and continued inquiry—framing the vrata teaching as a complete upadeśa that itself is meritorious to hear.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

This verse seals the teaching by declaring Śivarātri as “Vratarāja,” the highest vow—implying that dedicated devotion (bhakti), self-restraint, and remembrance of Śiva on this night are especially potent for purification and Śiva’s grace (anugraha), leading toward liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By calling Śivarātri the foremost vow, the text points to focused Saguna worship of Śiva—commonly through Liṅga-pūjā, abhiṣeka, and night-long vigil—where the devotee approaches Śiva as the compassionate Lord (Pati) who grants blessings and releases the soul from bonds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to observe Śivarātri as a disciplined vrata: fasting or restraint, night vigil (jāgaraṇa), and sustained Śiva-smaraṇa—ideally supported by mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Liṅga worship.