Shloka 31

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

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

Devanagari script

मृग्युवाच । शृणु व्याध प्रवक्ष्यामि शपथं हि करोम्यहम् । आगच्छेयं यथा ते न समीपं स्वगृहाद्गता

Transliteration

mṛgyuvāca | śṛṇu vyādha pravakṣyāmi śapathaṃ hi karomyaham | āgaccheyaṃ yathā te na samīpaṃ svagṛhādgatā

Translation

Die Hirschkuh sprach: „Höre, o Jäger; ich will es aussprechen — ich leiste einen Eid. Möge ich, nachdem ich in mein eigenes Haus gegangen bin, nicht wieder in deine Nähe zurückkehren.“

Word by Word

• मृगी: the doe (female deer)
• मृगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• व्याध: O hunter
• व्याध: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I will tell
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• शपथम्: an oath
• शपथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शपथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• करोमि: I do / I make
• करोमि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुषवाचक; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• आगच्छेयम्: I should come / may I come
• आगच्छेयम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/सम्भावना), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: आ-

• यथा: as / so that
• यथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/how)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी) एकवचन (to you) / षष्ठी एकवचन (of you) — अत्र अर्थतः ‘to you’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• समीपम्: near / vicinity
• समीपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे ‘to the vicinity’

• स्वगृहात्: from (my) own house
• स्वगृहात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वगृह (प्रातिपदिक: स्व + गृह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (from)

• गता: gone
• गता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle/कृदन्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (she having gone)

Speaker

The doe (Mṛgī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śṛṇu vyādha pravakṣyāmi śapathaṃ hi karomyaham | āgaccheyaṃ yathā te na samīpaṃ svagṛhādgatā

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights satya (truthfulness) and vrata (a binding vow) as dharmic powers; in Shaiva thought, inner purity and truth-supporting conduct become a means to receive Shiva’s grace and protection.

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

Kotirudrasaṃhitā repeatedly links pilgrimage and Linga-darśana with ethical transformation; this oath-centered moment shows that devotion to Saguna Shiva is validated by integrity—truth and restraint are part of proper approach to Jyotirlinga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is satya-vrata: before japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) or Jyotirlinga worship, take a simple vow of truth and non-harm, and maintain mental steadiness (saṃyama) so worship is supported by dharma.