Shloka 98
Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ
The Hunter’s Account and the Efficacy of the Śivarātri Observance
विचार्य्य सर्वशास्त्राणि धर्मांश्चैवाप्यनेकशः । शिवरात्रिव्रतमिदं सर्वोत्कृष्टं प्रकीर्तितम्
vicāryya sarvaśāstrāṇi dharmāṃścaivāpyanekaśaḥ | śivarātrivratamidaṃ sarvotkṛṣṭaṃ prakīrtitam
Setelah meneliti segala śāstra dan pelbagai jalan dharma berulang kali, nazar Śivarātri ini diisytiharkan sebagai yang paling unggul daripada semua nazar.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: The verse is a general śāstric commendation of Mahāśivarātri as the pre-eminent vrata; it is not tied to a single Jyotirliṅga-sthala narrative here.
Significance: Observance of Mahāśivarātri is presented as the highest dharmic discipline, implying accelerated purification and Śiva’s grace (anugraha).
FAQs
The verse declares that, among many dharmic observances evaluated in the śāstras, Śivarātri-vrata is foremost—because it centers the devotee on Pati (Śiva), the liberating Lord, and thus is praised as a direct, highly efficacious means toward purification and mokṣa.
By elevating Śivarātri-vrata as supreme, the text implicitly prioritizes the night-long devotion and worship of Lord Śiva in accessible saguna forms—especially Liṅga-pūjā—through which the devotee’s mind becomes steady in Śiva-bhakti and aligned to His grace.
It points to undertaking the Śivarātri observance: fasting/discipline (vrata), night vigil, and focused Śiva-upāsanā—commonly including mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Liṅga worship as the core practice.