Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

शुक्रोत्पत्तिः तथा महेश्वरदर्शनम् (Śukra’s Emergence and the Vision of Maheśvara)

Devanagari script

ददर्श शूले संशुष्कं ध्यायंतं परमेश्वरम् । अंधकं धैर्यसद्वन्यदानवेशं तपस्विनम्

Transliteration

dadarśa śūle saṃśuṣkaṃ dhyāyaṃtaṃ parameśvaram | aṃdhakaṃ dhairyasadvanyadānaveśaṃ tapasvinam

Translation

Er erblickte Andhaka — den Herrn der Dānavas — durch Askese ausgedörrt, im Mut standhaft, auf dem Dreizack sitzend, versunken in die Meditation über Parameśvara (Herrn Śiva), lebend wie ein Waldasket und leuchtend von der Kraft des tapas.

Word by Word

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• शूले: on the trident / in the trident
• शूले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• संशुष्कम्: completely dried up
• संशुष्कम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+शुष्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• ध्यायन्तम्: meditating
• ध्यायन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• परमेश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• अन्धकम्: Andhaka
• अन्धकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• धैर्यसद्वन्यदानवेशम्: having the guise of a steadfast, wild demon
• धैर्यसद्वन्यदानवेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धैर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + वन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + दानव (प्रातिपदिक) + वेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• तपस्विनम्: an ascetic
• तपस्विनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjective)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga setting; it depicts Andhaka’s tapas and dhyāna on Parameśvara—an archetype of the bound soul (paśu) striving through austerity, yet still within the ambit of concealment (tirodhāna) that can distort aspiration into egoic claim.

Significance: Instructional: tapas without right orientation/anugraha can harden into demonic power; true fruit requires Śiva’s grace and correct bhāva.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Andhaka

FAQs

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

It shows that even a Dānava like Andhaka can gain formidable power through tapas when the mind is fixed in dhyāna on Parameśvara; the verse highlights the transformative potency of austerity, while implying that spiritual maturity depends on how that power is later directed—toward ego and domination or toward surrender to Shiva (Pati).

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

Meditation on “Parameśvara” here reflects Saguna-focused upāsanā—contemplating Shiva as the personal Lord. In Shaiva practice, such dhyāna is commonly supported by Linga-worship, where the mind gathers on Shiva’s form and presence through pūjā, abhiṣeka, and mantra-japa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to dhyāna with tapas: sustained meditation on Shiva, supported by japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and disciplined ascetic restraint; practitioners may pair this with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), rudrākṣa, and daily Shiva pūjā to stabilize attention and devotion.