Shloka 72

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

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

Devanagari script

इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कनिष्ठा वाक्यमब्रवीत् । अहं त्वत्सेविका चाद्य गच्छामि स्थीयतां त्वया

Transliteration

iti tadvacanaṃ śrutvā kaniṣṭhā vākyamabravīt | ahaṃ tvatsevikā cādya gacchāmi sthīyatāṃ tvayā

Translation

Hearing those words, the younger one replied: “I am your attendant; today I shall go. You should remain here.”

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्योपपादक (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object of ‘श्रुत्वा’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण ‘वचनम्’

• वचनम्: speech, words
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of ‘श्रुत्वा’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• कनिष्ठा: the younger (woman/sister)
• कनिष्ठा: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: a statement
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of ‘अब्रवीत्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्वत्: your
• त्वत्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचनार्थे (genitive sense ‘of you’), समासाङ्ग (member in compound ‘त्वत्सेविका’)

• सेविका: female servant
• सेविका: कर्ता (Kartā/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेविका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: त्वत्सेविका = तव सेविका

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक

• अद्य: today, now
• अद्य: अधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• गच्छामि: I go
• गच्छामि: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्थीयताम्: let (it/you) stay
• स्थीयताम्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive/impersonal), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आज्ञार्थे (let it be stayed)

• त्वया: by you / with you
• त्वया: सहकारक (Sahakāraka/Instrumental associate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental: by/with you)

Speaker

Kaniṣṭhā (the younger woman/attendant in the narrative, as recounted by Sūta)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

It highlights sevā-bhāva—humble service and taking responsibility—as a dharmic attitude that supports devotion (bhakti) and inner purification, aligning one’s actions toward Śiva as Pati (the Lord).

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

Though the verse is conversational, its spirit reflects Saguna-Śiva devotion expressed through service and duty; in Jyotirliṅga contexts, such disciplined conduct and reverence are integral to tīrtha-yātrā and temple worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is sevā as sādhana: serve devotees, maintain vows during pilgrimage, and accompany actions with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) for steadiness of mind.