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

تمام شاستروں اور دین کے متعدد راستوں پر غور کرنے کے بعد یہ اعلان کیا گیا ہے کہ شِو راتری کا یہ ورت سب سے افضل ہے۔

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.