Shloka 82
Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ
The Hunter’s Account and the Efficacy of the Śivarātri Observance
मानुष्यं जन्म संप्राप्य साधितं किं मयाधुना । परकायं च संपीड्य शरीरं पोषितं मया
mānuṣyaṃ janma saṃprāpya sādhitaṃ kiṃ mayādhunā | parakāyaṃ ca saṃpīḍya śarīraṃ poṣitaṃ mayā
„Da ich eine menschliche Geburt erlangt habe, welche geistige Errungenschaft habe ich bis jetzt vollbracht? Indem ich den Leib eines anderen quälte, habe ich nur meinen eigenen Körper genährt.“
Suta Goswami (narrating a moral reflection within the Kotirudra Saṃhitā context)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It is a confession of wasted human opportunity: instead of using rare human birth for Shiva-sadhana and liberation, the speaker admits to selfish living that harms others, creating binding karma and delaying moksha.
Linga-worship is not only external pilgrimage or offerings; it requires inner dharma—ahiṃsā, compassion, and repentance. Without purifying conduct, worship remains fruitless and does not mature into Shiva’s grace (anugraha).
A practical takeaway is prāyaścitta with Shiva-bhakti: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offering water and bilva to the Linga, and adopting non-harming conduct as a vow—especially on Mahāśivarātri.