Shloka 101

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

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

Devanagari script

तस्माच्छुभतरं चैतत्कर्तव्यं हितमीप्सुभिः । शिवरात्रिव्रतन्दिव्यं भुक्ति मुक्तिप्रदं सदा

Transliteration

tasmācchubhataraṃ caitatkartavyaṃ hitamīpsubhiḥ | śivarātrivratandivyaṃ bhukti muktipradaṃ sadā

Translation

Oleh itu, mereka yang mencari kesejahteraan sejati hendaklah pasti melaksanakan amalan yang paling auspicious ini—nazar Śivarātri yang ilahi—kerana ia sentiasa menganugerahkan bhukti (kenikmatan dunia) dan mukti (pembebasan).

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: from that (therefore)
• तस्मात्: अपादान (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे (प्रयोगानुसार), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शुभतरम्: more auspicious
• शुभतरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

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

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done; should be performed
• कर्तव्यम्: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• हितम्: beneficial
• हितम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक; √धा/√हि-सम्बद्ध ‘placed/beneficial’)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ईप्सुभिः: by those who desire (seek)
• ईप्सुभिः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईप्सु (प्रातिपदिक; √आप्/ईप्स् ‘to desire’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शिवरात्रिव्रतम्: the Śivarātri vow
• शिवरात्रिव्रतम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + रात्रि + व्रत (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative) ‘शिवस्य रात्रिः’ इति; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भुक्ति: worldly enjoyment
• भुक्ति: सम्बन्ध (Related noun in compound-sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मुक्ति: liberation
• मुक्ति: सम्बन्ध (Related noun in compound-sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रदम्: granting
• प्रदम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रद (प्रातिपदिक; √दा ‘to give’ उपसर्ग-प्र)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘दातृ’ अर्थे

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General Mahāśivarātri-vrata-phala teaching: the vrata is ‘divine’ and grants both bhukti and mukti; not localized to a Jyotirliṅga in this verse.

Significance: Promises bhukti (worldly well-being) and mukti (liberation), a classic Purāṇic framing that also aligns with Siddhānta’s emphasis on Śiva’s saving grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse elevates Śivarātri-vrata as a supremely auspicious Shaiva discipline, teaching that devotion to Shiva on this sacred night supports both righteous worldly flourishing (bhukti) and the highest goal of release from bondage (mukti).

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

Śivarātri is traditionally observed with Shiva-pūjā centered on the Śiva-liṅga—offering water, bilva leaves, and mantra-japa—honoring Saguna Shiva as the accessible Lord who grants grace leading ultimately toward realization beyond bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to undertake the Śivarātri vrata—fasting/upavāsa, night-long vigil (jāgaraṇa), Shiva-liṅga worship, and mantra remembrance such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” seeking both purification and liberation.