Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka

Genealogy and Nature

Devanagari script

प्रवालहेमाब्जधृतप्रभाभ्यां कराम्बुजाभ्यां निमिमील नेत्रे । हरस्य नेत्रेषु निमीलितेषु क्षणेन जातः सुमहांधकारः

Transliteration

pravālahemābjadhṛtaprabhābhyāṃ karāmbujābhyāṃ nimimīla netre | harasya netreṣu nimīliteṣu kṣaṇena jātaḥ sumahāṃdhakāraḥ

Translation

Mit lotosgleichen Händen, strahlend wie Koralle, Gold und Lotos, schloss Hara seine Augen. Und in dem Augenblick, da die Augen des Herrn Hara geschlossen waren, erhob sich sogleich eine gewaltige, schreckliche Finsternis.

Word by Word

• pravāla-hema-abja-dhṛta-prabhābhyām: by the two (hands) whose radiance was like coral, gold, and lotus
• pravāla-hema-abja-dhṛta-prabhābhyām: Viśeṣaṇa/Karaṇa (विशेषण/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravāla + hema + abja + dhṛta + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), द्विवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (abje dhṛtā prabhā yābhyām) qualifying karāmbujābhyām

• karāmbujābhyām: with the two lotus-hands
• karāmbujābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara + ambuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ambuja-sadṛśau karau = lotus-like hands)

• nimimīla: closed
• nimimīla: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-mīl (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• netre: the two eyes
• netre: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• harasya: of Hara (Śiva)
• harasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• netreṣu: in the eyes
• netreṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• nimīliteṣu: when (they were) closed
• nimīliteṣu: Sati-saptamī (सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-mīl (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; locative absolute with netreṣu

• kṣaṇena: in a moment
• kṣaṇena: Kālādhi-karaṇa (कालवाचक-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; adverbial instrumental ‘in a moment’

• jātaḥ: arose, was born
• jātaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicative

• su-mahā-andhakāraḥ: a very great darkness
• su-mahā-andhakāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + mahā + andhakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः with intensifier su- (very great darkness)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The instantaneous spread of darkness when Hara’s eyes are shut functions as a cosmological allegory: when the Lord’s revealing power is withdrawn, the world-experience becomes obscured—prefiguring the need for anugraha.

Significance: A teaching-episode for devotees: cultivate reliance on Śiva’s jñāna-śakti; pray for removal of āṇava/karma/māyā bonds that manifest as ‘darkness’.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Symbolic ‘withdrawal of light’—a microcosmic tirodhāna event rather than an astronomical eclipse.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva (Pati) as the source of illumination: when His gaze is withdrawn, darkness manifests—symbolizing that without Śiva’s grace and consciousness, the jīva and world fall into ajñāna (spiritual ignorance).

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

The Liṅga signifies Śiva as the stable pillar of light-consciousness; this verse underscores that all perception depends on Him. Saguna worship trains the mind to recognize Śiva as the inner seer behind the eyes and the light behind all lights.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is pratyāhāra (sense-withdrawal): close the eyes, steady the breath, and mentally repeat the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—contemplating Śiva as the inner light that dispels darkness (andhakāra) of ignorance.