Shloka 42
Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ
The Hunter’s Account and the Efficacy of the Śivarātri Observance
परन्तु मम बालाश्च गृहे तिष्ठन्ति चार्भकाः । भर्त्रे तांश्च समर्प्यैव ह्यागमिष्याम्यहं पुनः
parantu mama bālāśca gṛhe tiṣṭhanti cārbhakāḥ | bhartre tāṃśca samarpyaiva hyāgamiṣyāmyahaṃ punaḥ
“However, my young children are at home—still only little ones. After entrusting them to my husband, I shall return here again.”
A devout woman/pilgrim (a householder devotee) speaking within Suta’s Kotirudrasaṃhitā narration
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
It highlights grihastha-dharma: devotion to Shiva is not rejected because of family duties; rather, one fulfills responsibilities (entrusting children to the husband) and then returns to worship with steadiness and sincerity.
Kotirudrasaṃhitā emphasizes Jyotirlinga devotion; the verse shows that Saguna Shiva worship through pilgrimage and temple service can be integrated with daily life—bhakti continues even when one must briefly attend to the home.
The takeaway is disciplined continuity: keep one’s Shiva-vrata and remembrance (japa of the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) even while arranging practical duties, then return to focused darśana/pūjā.