Shloka 92

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

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

Devanagari script

करिष्यति त्वया मैत्री मद्भक्तस्नेहकारकः । मत्सेवासक्तचेतास्त्वं मुक्तिं यास्यसि दुर्लभाम्

Transliteration

kariṣyati tvayā maitrī madbhaktasnehakārakaḥ | matsevāsaktacetāstvaṃ muktiṃ yāsyasi durlabhām

Translation

Through you, friendship shall be established—one that awakens tender love for My devotees. With your mind devoted to My service, you shall attain that liberation (mokṣa) which is difficult to obtain.

Word by Word

• kariṣyati: will do/make
• kariṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Lṛṭ (लृट्, simple future), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता) / Agent (कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक; pronoun)
• Form: Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); sarvanāma (सर्वनाम)

• maitrīm: friendship
• maitrīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maitrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• mad-bhakta-sneha-kārakaḥ: one who causes affection for my devotees
• mad-bhakta-sneha-kārakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate adjective (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + sneha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); multi-member tatpuruṣa: mad-bhakta (षष्ठी) + sneha (genitive relation) + kāraka ‘causing’

• mat-sevā-sakta-cetāḥ: whose mind is attached to my service
• mat-sevā-sakta-cetāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mat (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + sevā (प्रातिपदिक) + sakta (प्रातिपदिक; from √sañj/सञ्ज्) + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: mat-sevā (षष्ठी) + sakta-cetāḥ (karmadhāraya-like internal) meaning ‘mind attached’

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक; pronoun)
• Form: Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); sarvanāma (सर्वनाम)

• muktim: liberation
• muktim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• yāsyasi: you will attain/go to
• yāsyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: Lṛṭ (लृट्, simple future), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd/मध्यमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• durlabhām: rare, hard to obtain
• durlabhām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabhā (प्रातिपदिक; dur+labha)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); qualifies muktim

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse frames liberation as arising through sevā and maitrī with devotees—echoing tīrtha-like sanctification through satsanga rather than a specific jyotirliṅga site.

Significance: Teaching: service to Śiva and affectionate friendship with His devotees is a direct conduit to rare mokṣa.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that love for Shiva’s devotees and steady attachment to Shiva’s service (seva) purify the mind and become a direct cause for attaining rare liberation (moksha), aligning with the Shaiva emphasis on grace reached through devotion and right conduct.

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

Attachment to Shiva’s service naturally expresses itself as Saguna worship—such as Linga-puja, offerings, and pilgrimage—where devotion is stabilized through tangible acts, and the devotee’s heart becomes fit to receive Shiva’s liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is daily Shiva-seva: Linga worship with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with honoring Shiva-bhaktas; these acts cultivate the seva-attached mind praised in the verse.