Shloka 25

अन्धकानुग्रहः—शूलारोपणं, रुद्रस्मरण-फलम्, तथा गाणपत्य-प्रदानम् (अध्याय 93)

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा भवो ऽपि वचनम् अन्धकस्य महात्मनः प्रददौ दुर्लभां श्रद्धां दैत्येन्द्राय महाद्युतिः

Transliteration

śrutvā bhavo 'pi vacanam andhakasya mahātmanaḥ pradadau durlabhāṃ śraddhāṃ daityendrāya mahādyutiḥ

Translation

Als Bhava (Śiva) die Worte des großherzigen Andhaka vernahm, verlieh er selbst—von gewaltigem Glanz—jenem Herrn der Dānavas die seltene Gabe der śraddhā: standhaften Glauben.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard

• भवः: Bhava (Śiva)

• अपि: indeed/even

• वचनम्: the speech/words

• अन्धकस्य: of Andhaka

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one

• प्रददौ: bestowed/gave

• दुर्लभाम्: rare/difficult to obtain

• श्रद्धाम्: faith, reverent trust (śraddhā)

• दैत्येन्द्राय: to the lord of the Daityas

• महाद्युतिः: of great radiance/splendor

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages; internal event describing Shiva’s act toward Andhaka)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhava
• Andhaka

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It establishes that true Linga-pūjā begins with śraddhā granted and stabilized by Śiva’s anugraha (grace); without this inner reverence, ritual remains external and does not mature into transformative devotion.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva appears as Pati (the Lord) who can implant “durlabhā śraddhā” even in a Daitya-lord—showing that liberation-oriented disposition is not merely self-made but awakened by the Lord’s compassionate power.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights śraddhā as the foundational sādhana for Pāśupata-oriented practice—faith that ripens into disciplined worship (pūjā), mantra-japa, and inner turning from pāśa (bondage) toward Pati (Śiva).