Shloka 87

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

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

Devanagari script

संस्पृश्य कृपया शंभुस्तं व्याधं प्रीतितोऽब्रवीत् । वरं ब्रूहि प्रसन्नोऽस्मि व्रतेनानेन भिल्लक

Transliteration

saṃspṛśya kṛpayā śaṃbhustaṃ vyādhaṃ prītito'bravīt | varaṃ brūhi prasanno'smi vratenānena bhillaka

Translation

Moved by compassion, Śambhu (Lord Śiva) touched that hunter and joyfully said: “Speak your boon. By this observance, O Bhillaka, I am pleased with you.”

Word by Word

• saṃspṛśya: having touched
• saṃspṛśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-spṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), indeclinable (अव्ययभाव)

• kṛpayā: with compassion
• kṛpayā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaṃbhuḥ: Śambhu
• śaṃbhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• vyādham: hunter
• vyādham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyādha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• prītitaḥ: out of joy/pleasure
• prītitaḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial ablative

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• varam: a boon
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• brūhi: speak/tell
• brūhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• prasannaḥ: pleased
• prasannaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); predicate of asmi

• asmi: I am
• asmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vratena: by (this) vow
• vratena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• anena: by this
• anena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with vratena (sense: ‘by this’)

• bhillaka: O Bhillaka (tribal hunter)
• bhillaka: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhillaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Śambhu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shows that Śiva, as Pati (the Lord), is moved by sincere vrata and bhakti, granting grace even to those of humble station; devotion, not birth, becomes the doorway to liberation.

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

Śambhu’s personal, compassionate response reflects Saguna Śiva—accessible to devotees through vow, worship, and pilgrimage traditions celebrated in the Kotirudrasaṁhitā’s Jyotirliṅga-oriented narrative.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse highlights vrata (sacred observance) as a practice that pleases Śiva; paired with Shaiva discipline, it is commonly supported by japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and simple, sincere worship.