Shloka 98

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

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

Devanagari script

विचार्य्य सर्वशास्त्राणि धर्मांश्चैवाप्यनेकशः । शिवरात्रिव्रतमिदं सर्वोत्कृष्टं प्रकीर्तितम्

Transliteration

vicāryya sarvaśāstrāṇi dharmāṃścaivāpyanekaśaḥ | śivarātrivratamidaṃ sarvotkṛṣṭaṃ prakīrtitam

Translation

เมื่อพิจารณาศาสตราทั้งปวงและหนทางแห่งธรรมอันหลากหลายแล้ว ได้ประกาศว่า “ว्रตศิวราตรี” นี้ประเสริฐที่สุดเหนือว्रตทั้งหลาย

Word by Word

• विचार्य: having considered
• विचार्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि+चर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) — 'having considered'

• सर्व-शास्त्राणि: all scriptures
• सर्व-शास्त्राणि: कर्म (Object of विचार्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय — 'all scriptures'

• धर्मान्: duties/virtues
• धर्मान्: कर्म (Object of विचार्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — 'duties/virtues'

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• अपि: also
• अपि: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/सम्भावना-अव्यय (also/even)

• अनेकशः: in many ways
• अनेकशः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb) — 'in many ways/many times'

• शिव-रात्रि-व्रतम्: the Śivarātri vow
• शिव-रात्रि-व्रतम्: कर्म/विषय (Topic/that which is described)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष — 'vow of (the night of) Śiva'

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: विशेषण (Determiner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम — 'this' (qualifying व्रतम्)

• सर्व-उत्कृष्टम्: the best of all
• सर्व-उत्कृष्टम्: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्कृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष — 'best of all' (सर्वेषाम् उत्कृष्टम्)

• प्रकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तितम्: क्रिया (Predicate, passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थ — 'is proclaimed'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

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).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

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.

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

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.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

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.