Shloka 95

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

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

Devanagari script

व्याधेश्वरः शिवो जातः पर्वते ह्यर्बुदाचले । दर्शनात्पूजनात्सद्यो भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकः

Transliteration

vyādheśvaraḥ śivo jātaḥ parvate hyarbudācale | darśanātpūjanātsadyo bhuktimuktipradāyakaḥ

Translation

On the Arbuda mountain, Lord Śiva manifested as Vyādheśvara. By merely beholding Him and worshipping Him, one quickly attains both bhukti (worldly fulfillment) and mukti (liberation).

Word by Word

• व्याध-ईश्वरः: Vyādheśvara (Lord of the hunter)
• व्याध-ईश्वरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याध (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (“lord of the hunter/Byādha”)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: समानााधिकरण (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जातः: became
• जातः: क्रिया (Predicate/State)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘become/was born’

• पर्वते: on the mountain
• पर्वते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• अर्बुद-अचले: on Arbuda mountain
• अर्बुद-अचले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्बुद (प्रातिपदिक) + अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (“Arbuda mountain”)

• दर्शनात्: from seeing
• दर्शनात्: हेतु/अपादान (Cause/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; अपादान/हेतु (ablative: “from/by reason of”)

• पूजनात्: from worship
• पूजनात्: हेतु/अपादान (Cause/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; अपादान/हेतु (ablative)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: कालाधिकरण (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: immediately)

• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-प्रदायकः: giver of worldly enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-प्रदायकः: विधेय (Predicate adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative: “giver of enjoyment and liberation”)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śiva manifests on Arbuda mountain as Vyādheśvara (Lord connected with the hunter episode). The kṣetra’s hallmark is that darśana and pūjā quickly grant both bhukti and mukti.

Significance: Kṣetra-māhātmya: worship at Vyādheśvara is said to yield immediate worldly welfare and final liberation, emphasizing Śiva’s accessibility to all varṇas/āśramas.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vyadheshvara

FAQs

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

It proclaims the tīrtha-māhātmya of Vyādheśvara: Śiva’s compassionate presence makes darśana and pūjā powerful means for both dharmic well-being (bhukti) and final release (mukti), aligning devotion with liberation.

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

Vyādheśvara is presented as Śiva’s accessible saguna manifestation at a specific sacred site; linga-darśana and linga-pūjā are implied as direct, grace-bearing practices through which the devotee approaches Pati (Śiva) and is freed from pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform darśana and simple linga-pūjā with Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offering water and bilva leaves; maintain a Shaiva discipline such as tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as supports for steady devotion.