Shloka 85

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

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

Devanagari script

इति ज्ञानं समापन्नो बाणं संवारयंस्तदा । गम्यतां च मृगश्रेष्ठा धन्याः स्थ इति चाब्रवीत्

Transliteration

iti jñānaṃ samāpanno bāṇaṃ saṃvārayaṃstadā | gamyatāṃ ca mṛgaśreṣṭhā dhanyāḥ stha iti cābravīt

Translation

Thus having attained true understanding, he then restrained his arrow and said, “Go your way, O best of deer; you are blessed.”

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative/closure)

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• samāpannaḥ: having attained
• samāpannaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-āpanna (आपन्न प्रातिपदिक; √āp आप् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘ज्ञानं समापन्नः’ = having attained knowledge

• bāṇam: arrow
• bāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• saṃvārayān: restraining
• saṃvārayān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-vṛ (वृ/वॄ धातु) with saṃ-; causative stem saṃvāray-
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘संवारयन्’ = restraining/withdrawing

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/ time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb of time)

• gamyatām: let (it) be gone / go
• gamyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘गम्यताम्’ = let (it) be gone/you may go

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• mṛga-śreṣṭhāḥ: O best of deer
• mṛga-śreṣṭhāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘मृगाणां श्रेष्ठाः’); पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), बहुवचन

• dhanyāḥ: fortunate
• dhanyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhanya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; (vocative sense also possible by context)

• stha: be
• stha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that when right knowledge dawns, cruelty and impulsive action subside; restraint becomes a natural expression of dharma, aligning the seeker toward Shiva-oriented liberation (moksha).

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is repeatedly tied to inner purification; this moment of withdrawing the arrow mirrors the devotee’s shift from outward aggression to inner devotion—an essential preparation for approaching Saguna Shiva through reverence and self-control.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa with the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to steady the mind, along with cultivating ahimsa as a daily vrata; this inner restraint is treated as a core Shaiva discipline supporting worship and meditation.