Shloka 54
Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ
The Hunter’s Account and the Efficacy of the Śivarātri Observance
श्रुत्वा तत्र च तं शब्दं किं करोषीति प्राह सः । कुटुम्बार्थमहं हन्मि त्वां व्याधश्चेति सोब्रवीत्
śrutvā tatra ca taṃ śabdaṃ kiṃ karoṣīti prāha saḥ | kuṭumbārthamahaṃ hanmi tvāṃ vyādhaśceti sobravīt
เมื่อได้ยินเสียงนั้น ณ ที่นั้น เขาจึงถามว่า “เจ้ากำลังทำอะไร?” นายพรานตอบว่า “เพื่อเลี้ยงครอบครัวข้าจึงฆ่า; ข้าเป็นพราน และจะฆ่าเจ้าด้วย”
Suta Goswami (narrating the dialogue within the Jyotirlinga-related episode)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: The episode turns to ethical tension: a hunter, bound by livelihood and instinct, declares killing for family. This illustrates paśu-condition—soul driven by necessity and karmic momentum—under the veil (tirodhāna) that obscures dharma and higher aim.
Significance: Serves as a moral mirror for pilgrims: worldly compulsion and justification can coexist with latent capacity for transformation through contact with Śiva’s sphere.
FAQs
It highlights how worldly compulsion (supporting one’s family) is often used to justify harmful karma, setting the stage for Shiva’s grace to redirect the soul from pasha (bondage) toward dharma and eventual bhakti.
In Kotirudra narratives, such confrontations often become the turning point that leads a bound jiva to seek refuge in Saguna Shiva—commonly through Jyotirlinga pilgrimage or Linga worship—transforming intent and action through devotion.
The implied remedy is repentance and adopting Shaiva disciplines—regular Linga worship with water/abhisheka, japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and cultivating ahimsa—especially emphasized during Mahashivratri observance.