Shloka 52

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

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

Devanagari script

तदैवं कुर्वतस्तस्य बिल्वपत्राणि कानिचित् । तत्प्रारब्धवशाद्विष्णो पतितानि शिवोपरि

Transliteration

tadaivaṃ kurvatastasya bilvapatrāṇi kānicit | tatprārabdhavaśādviṣṇo patitāni śivopari

Translation

Just then, as he was doing so, a few bilva leaves—impelled by the force of that destined course of events—fell from Viṣṇu and landed upon Śiva.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• कुर्वतः: of (him) doing
• कुर्वतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘of (him) doing’

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• बिल्व-पत्राणि: bilva leaves
• बिल्व-पत्राणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘बिल्वस्य पत्राणि’

• कानि-चित्: some
• कानि-चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; अनिश्चितपरिमाणवाचक (some)

• तत्-प्रारब्ध-वशात्: due to the force of (his) prārabdha (destiny)
• तत्-प्रारब्ध-वशात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रारब्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावः; पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययवत्—‘तस्य प्रारब्धस्य वशात्’ (because of the force of his destiny)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• पतितानि: fell / having fallen
• पतितानि: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘fallen’

• शिव-उपरि: upon Śiva
• शिव-उपरि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: उपरि—देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb); ‘on/over Śiva’ (शिवे उपरि)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: In the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā’s didactic narrative, an apparently accidental offering occurs: bilva leaves fall from Viṣṇu onto Śiva, establishing that even unintentional contact with Śiva’s worship-material can become a cause for merit when aligned with destiny (prārabdha) and Śiva’s will.

Significance: Teaches that bilva (Śiva-priya) offered even inadvertently can initiate Śiva’s grace and begin the soul’s turning toward worship.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights that even seemingly accidental acts can become true worship when guided by prārabdha and devotion—bilva leaves falling upon Śiva signify that Śiva accepts sincere offerings in subtle, grace-filled ways.

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

Bilva-patra is a classic upacāra in Śiva-pūjā; the verse reinforces Saguna worship where tangible offerings offered to Śiva (and especially the Śiva-liṅga) become vehicles of merit and divine grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer bilva leaves with focused bhakti—ideally while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—recognizing that Śiva values purity of intention and steady remembrance.