Shloka 31

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

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

Devanagari script

मृग्युवाच । शृणु व्याध प्रवक्ष्यामि शपथं हि करोम्यहम् । आगच्छेयं यथा ते न समीपं स्वगृहाद्गता

Transliteration

mṛgyuvāca | śṛṇu vyādha pravakṣyāmi śapathaṃ hi karomyaham | āgaccheyaṃ yathā te na samīpaṃ svagṛhādgatā

Translation

ہرنی بولی—اے شکاری، سنو؛ میں کہتی ہوں، میں قسم کھاتی ہوں۔ اپنے گھر جا کر میں تمہارے پاس پھر نہ آؤں۔

Word by Word

• मृगी: the doe (female deer)
• मृगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• व्याध: O hunter
• व्याध: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I will tell
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• शपथम्: an oath
• शपथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शपथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• करोमि: I do / I make
• करोमि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुषवाचक; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• आगच्छेयम्: I should come / may I come
• आगच्छेयम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/सम्भावना), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: आ-

• यथा: as / so that
• यथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/how)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी) एकवचन (to you) / षष्ठी एकवचन (of you) — अत्र अर्थतः ‘to you’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• समीपम्: near / vicinity
• समीपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे ‘to the vicinity’

• स्वगृहात्: from (my) own house
• स्वगृहात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वगृह (प्रातिपदिक: स्व + गृह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (from)

• गता: gone
• गता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle/कृदन्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (she having gone)

Speaker

The doe (Mṛgī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śṛṇu vyādha pravakṣyāmi śapathaṃ hi karomyaham | āgaccheyaṃ yathā te na samīpaṃ svagṛhādgatā

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights satya (truthfulness) and vrata (a binding vow) as dharmic powers; in Shaiva thought, inner purity and truth-supporting conduct become a means to receive Shiva’s grace and protection.

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

Kotirudrasaṃhitā repeatedly links pilgrimage and Linga-darśana with ethical transformation; this oath-centered moment shows that devotion to Saguna Shiva is validated by integrity—truth and restraint are part of proper approach to Jyotirlinga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is satya-vrata: before japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) or Jyotirlinga worship, take a simple vow of truth and non-harm, and maintain mental steadiness (saṃyama) so worship is supported by dharma.