Shloka 94

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

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

Devanagari script

विमानं च समारुह्य दिव्यदेहा गतास्तदा । शिवदर्शनमात्रेण शापान्मुक्ता दिवं गताः

Transliteration

vimānaṃ ca samāruhya divyadehā gatāstadā | śivadarśanamātreṇa śāpānmuktā divaṃ gatāḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ അവർ ദിവ്യവിമാനത്തിൽ കയറി ദീപ്തമായ ദിവ്യദേഹങ്ങളോടെ പുറപ്പെട്ടു. ശ്രീശിവന്റെ ദർശനമാത്രം കൊണ്ടു ശാപമുക്തരായി സ്വർഗ്ഗത്തിലേക്ക് ഉയർന്നു.

Word by Word

• विमानम्: a celestial car
• विमानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• समारुह्य: having mounted
• समारुह्य: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-रुह् (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), “having mounted/ascended”

• दिव्य-देहाः: (they) of divine bodies
• दिव्य-देहाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (“divine-bodied”)

• गताः: went/had gone
• गताः: क्रिया (Predicate/State)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘gone’

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• शिव-दर्शन-मात्रेण: by mere sight of Śiva
• शिव-दर्शन-मात्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: “by mere sight of Śiva”); करण (instrumental)

• शापात्: from the curse
• शापात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• मुक्ताः: freed
• मुक्ताः: क्रिया (Predicate/State)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘freed’

• दिवम्: to heaven
• दिवम्: कर्म (Karma/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गन्तव्य (goal as object)

• गताः: went
• गताः: क्रिया (Predicate/State)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: By Śiva’s darśana alone, the cursed are released (śāpa-mokṣa), attain divya-deha, and ascend—depicting immediate karmic unbinding through grace.

Significance: Affirms the Purāṇic doctrine that Śiva-darśana is itself a liberating upāya, transforming the embodied state (deha) and destiny (gati).

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s anugraha (grace) can dissolve even severe karmic afflictions—symbolized by a curse—through mere darśana, highlighting bhakti as a direct means to purification and upliftment.

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

Darśana here implies meeting Saguna Śiva through a tangible form—often the Jyotirliṅga in Kotirudra narratives—where seeing and honoring the manifest Lord becomes a channel for receiving liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Seek Śiva-darśana with devotion—visit a Jyotirliṅga or worship a Śiva-liṅga daily with pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and sincere prayer for release from pāśa (bondage).