Shloka 57

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

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

Devanagari script

यो वै सामर्थ्ययुक्तश्च नोपकारं करोति वै । तत्सामर्थ्यं भवेद्व्यर्थं परत्र नरकं व्रजेत्

Transliteration

yo vai sāmarthyayuktaśca nopakāraṃ karoti vai | tatsāmarthyaṃ bhavedvyarthaṃ paratra narakaṃ vrajet

Translation

సామర్థ్యమున్నవాడై కూడా ఉపకారం చేయనివాడు—అతని సామర్థ్యమే వ్యర్థమగును; పరలోకంలో అతడు నరకానికి పోవును।

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• सामर्थ्ययुक्तः: endowed with ability
• सामर्थ्ययुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सामर्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सामर्थ्येन युक्तः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of यः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• उपकारम्: help/service
• उपकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• करोति: does
• करोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha-bodhaka (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of सामर्थ्यम्)

• सामर्थ्यम्: ability/power
• सामर्थ्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामर्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्यर्थम्: futile
• व्यर्थम्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of सामर्थ्यम्)

• परत्र: hereafter/in the next world
• परत्र: Desha-kala-adhikarana (देश/काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देश/कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: in the other world/after death)

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• व्रजेत्: would go
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames dharma as a prerequisite for Śiva’s anugraha: capability (śakti/adhikāra) must flow into upakāra (beneficence), otherwise it becomes pāśa (bondage) leading to naraka; encourages dāna-sevā as preparatory purification for Śiva-bhakti.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-centered dharma is not merely ritual but compassionate action: capacity (wealth, strength, knowledge) must be used for upakāra (benefit of others), otherwise it becomes spiritually barren and yields painful karmic results.

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

Linga-worship to Saguna Shiva is meant to purify the heart; this verse clarifies that devotion must express itself as dharmic conduct—service and protection of beings—otherwise external worship lacks the inner transformation Shiva grants.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily seva and dāna alongside japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); on Shiva days (especially Mahāśivarātri), add charity/feeding and prayerful resolve to use one’s abilities for upakāra.