Shloka 4

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

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

Devanagari script

पुरा कश्चिद्वने भिल्लो नाम्ना ह्यासीद्गुरुद्रुहः । कुटुम्बी बलवान्क्रूरः क्रूरकर्मपरायणः

Transliteration

purā kaścidvane bhillo nāmnā hyāsīdgurudruhaḥ | kuṭumbī balavānkrūraḥ krūrakarmaparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

Einst, in einem Wald, lebte ein Bhilla (Stammesjäger) namens Gurudruha. Er war ein Hausvater, stark und wild, stets auf grausame Taten ausgerichtet.

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly/once
• पुरा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• कश्चित्: a certain (man)
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• भिल्लः: a Bhilla (tribal hunter)
• भिल्लः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिल्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; जातिवाचक संज्ञा

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गुरुद्रुहः: a betrayer of the guru
• गुरुद्रुहः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रुह् (धातु) → द्रुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गुरोः द्रुहः = one who harms the guru)

• कुटुम्बी: a householder/family man
• कुटुम्बी: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुटुम्बिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; -इन् प्रत्ययान्त

• बलवान्: strong
• बलवान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• क्रूरः: cruel
• क्रूरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• क्रूरकर्मपरायणः: devoted to cruel actions
• क्रूरकर्मपरायणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (क्रूरं कर्म यस्य परायणम्/क्रूरकर्मणि परायणः = devoted to cruel deeds)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it opens an adhikāra-narrative where a severely bound paśu (the hunter Gurudruha) is introduced to later demonstrate Śiva’s grace overriding demerit.

Significance: Didactic: establishes the extremity of pāśa (bondage) so that later anugraha (grace) appears unmistakably.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It sets up a classic Shiva Purana theme: even a person entrenched in cruel karma can be transformed when the grace of Pati (Lord Shiva) enters the narrative—showing that bondage (pāśa) is real, yet not final when devotion awakens.

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

Kotirudrasaṃhitā commonly frames stories around Jyotirlinga pilgrimage and Saguna Shiva’s compassionate accessibility; this verse introduces an unworthy पात्र (recipient) to highlight how Linga-centered devotion and Shiva’s presence can purify and redirect life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

This verse itself prescribes no practice, but it prepares for the Purana’s usual remedy for harsh karma: turning to Shiva through Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-darśana/pujā, and Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa when later context permits.