Shloka 39

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

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

Devanagari script

यामस्य च द्वितीयस्य तेन शंभोर्महात्मनः । पूजा जाता प्रसंगेन व्याधस्य सुखदायिनी

Transliteration

yāmasya ca dvitīyasya tena śaṃbhormahātmanaḥ | pūjā jātā prasaṃgena vyādhasya sukhadāyinī

Translation

Then, during the second yāma, by a providential turn of events, that hunter worshiped the great-souled Lord Śambhu, and that worship became for him a source of joy and spiritual merit.

Word by Word

• यामस्य: of the watch/period (of time)
• यामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• द्वितीयस्य: of the second
• द्वितीयस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; ‘यामस्य’ विशेषण

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (pronoun), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• शंभोः: of Śambhu
• शंभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (one)
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् आत्मा यस्य/महान् आत्मा) — here as epithet of Śambhu

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• जाता: occurred
• जाता: Kriya (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘arose/occurred’

• प्रसंगेन: by occasion/chance
• प्रसंगेन: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसंग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; निमित्त/हेतु-अर्थे

• व्याधस्य: of the hunter
• व्याधस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• सुख-दायिनी: giving happiness
• सुख-दायिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + दायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (सुखं ददाति इति) — ‘पूजा’ विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The narrative frames the hunter’s ‘prasaṅga’ (incidental) worship during the second yāma as Śivarātri-vigil worship, highlighting the vrata’s power to convert ordinary acts into Śiva-pūjā.

Significance: Second-yāma worship underscores jāgaraṇa (night vigil) as a key Śivarātri limb; promises sukha (worldly well-being) and spiritual uplift through Śiva’s grace even for the uninitiated.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shambhu
• Vyadha (hunter)

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s grace is not limited by social status or prior purity: even worship that arises “by circumstance” can become spiritually fruitful when directed to Śambhu, revealing the Lord’s compassion toward the bound soul (paśu).

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

In Kotirudra narratives, devotion often centers on tangible, Saguna worship—especially the Liṅga. This verse highlights that contact with such worship, even incidentally, can connect the devotee to Śiva’s saving presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The mention of the second yāma points to night-vigil style devotion (as in Mahāśivarātri): offering simple pūjā to Śiva/Liṅga with remembrance and mantra (e.g., pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), even if minimal, is emphasized.