Shloka 32

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

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

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणो वेदविक्रेता सन्ध्याहीनस्त्रिकालकम् । स्त्रियस्स्वस्वामिनो ह्याज्ञां समुल्लंघ्य क्रियान्विताः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇo vedavikretā sandhyāhīnastrikālakam | striyassvasvāmino hyājñāṃ samullaṃghya kriyānvitāḥ

Translation

贩卖吠陀的婆罗门、怠慢每日三次“桑迪亚”(Sandhyā)仪轨之人，以及妇女虽行宗教之业却违越自家夫君之命者——皆被宣示为违犯正法之徒。

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वेदविक्रेता: seller of the Veda
• वेदविक्रेता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + विक्रेता (प्रातिपदिक; विक्रेता from वि+क्री)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य विक्रेता)

• सन्ध्याहीनः: devoid of sandhyā (daily twilight rites)
• सन्ध्याहीनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन्ध्या + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सन्ध्यायाः हीनः)

• त्रिकालकम्: (the) thrice-daily (rite)
• त्रिकालकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + कालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (three-times-a-day)

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• स्वस्वामिनः: of (their) own husbands
• स्वस्वामिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ‘of one’s own husband/master’

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

• आज्ञाम्: command
• आज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• समुल्लङ्घ्य: having transgressed
• समुल्लङ्घ्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लङ्घ् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (Absolutive/क्त्वान्त), अव्ययभाव; उपसर्ग: सम् + उत्

• क्रियान्विताः: engaged in (other) rites/acts
• क्रियान्विताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रिया + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (स्त्रियः इति स्त्रीलिङ्गे सति अपि पाठभेद/सामान्य-बहुवचन-प्रयोगः), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (क्रियया अन्विताः = endowed with acts/rites)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Serves as dharma-śikṣā: warns that ritual without right conduct (ācāra) becomes bondage (pāśa) rather than merit; encourages ethical purity in Śiva-bhakti.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that spiritual practice must be rooted in dharma: sacred knowledge is not to be commodified, daily inner purification (Sandhyā) should not be abandoned, and religious acts should not be used to justify willful transgression—only disciplined, ethical devotion becomes fit for Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga worship is not merely an external rite; it is effective when the devotee’s life aligns with right conduct. Neglecting foundational duties like Sandhyā or treating scripture as merchandise undermines the purity (bhāva-śuddhi) required for fruitful Saguna Shiva worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain the tri-kāla Sandhyā (daily twilight worship) as a baseline discipline alongside Shiva-upāsanā—supporting mantra-japa (such as the Panchākṣarī) with regular purification, restraint, and sincerity.