Once Parvati Ji asked Lord Shiv Shankar, 'Which is the best and simple fast-worship, by which the creatures of the mortal world can easily attain your blessings?' In reply, Shiv Ji told Parvati the rules of 'Shivratri' fast and narrated this story-
'Once there was a hunter named Chitrabhanu. He used to feed his family by killing animals. He was indebted to a moneylender, but could not repay his debt on time. The angry moneylender imprisoned the hunter in the Shiv Math. Coincidentally, it was Shivratri that day.'
The hunter kept listening to religious things related to Shiva in meditation. On Chaturdashi, he also heard the story of Shivratri fast. As soon as it was evening, the moneylender called him to him and talked about repaying the debt. The hunter was released from bondage by promising to return the entire loan the next day. As usual, he went out for hunting in the forest. But he was very hungry and thirsty due to being in prison all day. To hunt, he started making a camp on a bael tree near a pond. There was a Shivling under the bael tree which was covered with bilva leaves. The hunter did not find it.
While making the camp, the branches he broke accidentally fell on the ling. Thus, the hungry and thirsty hunter's fast was completed and the bilva leaves were also offered on the ling. After one quarter of the night, a pregnant deer came to the pond to drink water. As soon as the hunter put an arrow on the bow and pulled the string, the deer said, "I am pregnant. I will deliver soon. You will kill two people at once, which is not right. I will present myself before you soon after giving birth to the child, then you can kill me." The hunter loosened the string and the deer disappeared into the wild bushes.
After some time, another deer came from there. The hunter's happiness knew no bounds. On coming close, he strung an arrow to the bow. Seeing him, the deer humbly requested, "O Pardhi! I have finished my period a little while ago. I am a woman yearning for love. I am wandering in search of my beloved. I will meet my husband and come to you soon." The hunter let her go too. He was worried after losing his prey twice. The last part of the night was passing. Just then another deer passed by with her children. This was a golden opportunity for the hunter. He did not delay in strung an arrow to the bow. He was about to release the arrow when the deer said, "O Pardhi! I will hand over these children to their father and return." At this time the hunter laughed and said, I am not such a fool that I will let go of the prey that comes in front of me. I have lost my prey twice before this. My children must be suffering from hunger and thirst. In reply, the deer said, just like you are being tormented by the love for your children, I am also being tormented by it. Therefore, in the name of the children, I am asking for a short life. O Pardhi! Believe me, I promise to leave them with their father and return immediately.
Hearing the pitiful voice of the deer, the hunter felt pity for it. He let that deer go too. In the absence of prey, the hunter sitting on the bael tree was breaking the bael leaves and throwing them down. When dawn was about to break, a healthy deer came on the same path. The hunter decided that he would definitely hunt it. Seeing the hunter's taut bowstring, the deer said in a humble voice, O Pardhi brother! If you have killed the three deers and their small children who came before me, then do not delay in killing me too, so that I do not have to suffer even a moment of pain in their separation. I am the husband of those deers. If you have given them life, then please give me a few moments of life too. I will meet them and present myself before you.
On hearing the deer's words, the entire incident of the night flashed before the hunter. He narrated the entire story to the deer. Then the deer said, 'My three wives have gone after taking a vow, they will not be able to follow their religion after my death. Therefore, just as you have left them considering them trustworthy, let me go too. I will appear before you soon with all of them.'
The hunter's violent heart had become pure due to fasting, night vigil and offering of Bel leaves on Shivling. The divine power had started residing in him. The bow and arrow fell from his hand easily. Due to the mercy of Lord Shiva, his violent heart was filled with compassionate feelings. Remembering his past deeds, he started burning in the fire of repentance.
After a while, that deer along with his family appeared before the hunter so that he could hunt them, but seeing such truthfulness, purity and collective love of the wild animals, the hunter felt very ashamed. Tears started flowing from his eyes. By not killing that deer family, the hunter removed his hard heart from violence against living beings and made it soft and kind forever. The entire community of gods was also watching this incident from Devlok. As soon as the incident culminated, the gods and goddesses showered flowers. Then the hunter and the deer family attained salvation.
