Shloka 88

दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas

Devanagari script

कदाचिन्नारदायाथ शिवरात्रिव्रतन्त्विदम् । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं दिव्यं कथयामास केशवः

Transliteration

kadācinnāradāyātha śivarātrivratantvidam | bhuktimuktipradaṃ divyaṃ kathayāmāsa keśavaḥ

Translation

Once, Keśava (Viṣṇu) narrated to Nārada this divine observance of Śivarātri—an auspicious vow that bestows both bhukti (worldly fulfillment) and mukti (liberation).

Word by Word

• kadācit: once/sometime
• kadācit: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācit (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• nāradāya: to Nārada
• nāradāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Discourse particle (अनन्तर/आरम्भसूचक अव्यय)

• śiva-rātri-vratam: the Śivarātri vow
• śiva-rātri-vratam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + rātri (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa 'vow of Śiva-night (Śivarātri)'

• tu: indeed/and
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative/emphatic particle (तु-शब्दः)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhukti-mukti-pradam: granting enjoyment and liberation
• bhukti-mukti-pradam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhukti (प्रातिपदिक) + mukti (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa 'giver of bhukti and mukti'

• divyam: divine
• divyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kathayāmāsa: narrated/told
• kathayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kathaya (कथय धातु/णिजन्त from √kath)
• Form: Periphrastic perfect (लिट्-परस्मैपद, आम्-प्रत्यययुक्त), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• keśavaḥ: Keśava (Viṣṇu)
• keśavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (reporting that Vishnu/Keśava spoke to Narada)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śivarātri as a universally transmissible vrata-kathā taught even by Viṣṇu to Nārada, underscoring its pan-Indic authority and salvific efficacy.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Narada
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It declares Śivarātri-vrata as a divinely sanctioned discipline that grants both bhukti (rightful worldly welfare) and mukti (release), showing that devotion to Śiva can culminate in liberation.

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

Śivarātri is traditionally observed with night-long worship of Śiva in manifest (saguṇa) form—commonly through Liṅga-pūjā—yet its promised fruit is mukti, pointing beyond form to Śiva as the supreme liberator (Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse highlights undertaking the Śivarātri vrata—typically fasting, vigil, and Śiva worship; it may be supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and disciplined devotion through the night.