Shloka 23

Andhakeśvara-liṅga Māhātmya and Śiva’s Subjugation of Andhaka (अन्धकेश्वरलिङ्गमाहात्म्य तथा अन्धकवध-प्रसङ्ग)

Devanagari script

दधीचेस्तु तदा ह्यासीद्ग्रामान्तरनिवेशनम् । ज्ञातिसंयोगतश्चैव ज्ञातिभिर्न स मोचितः

Transliteration

dadhīcestu tadā hyāsīdgrāmāntaraniveśanam | jñātisaṃyogataścaiva jñātibhirna sa mocitaḥ

Translation

At that time Dadhīci had his dwelling established in another village; and because of his association with his kinsmen, he was not released by those relatives.

Word by Word

• दधीचेः: of Dadhīci
• दधीचेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधीचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (proper noun)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative/contrast particle (विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic/causal particle (निश्चय/हेतुवाचक अव्यय)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• ग्रामान्तरनिवेशनम्: residence in another village
• ग्रामान्तरनिवेशनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + निवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष (determinative): 'settlement in another village'

• ज्ञातिसंयोगतः: due to association with relatives
• ज्ञातिसंयोगतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक) + संयोग (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तसिलन्त अव्यय) meaning 'because of/from'; compound base 'kinsmen-connection'

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक अव्यय)

• ज्ञातिभिः: by (his) relatives
• ज्ञातिभिः: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेधार्थक अव्यय)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• मोचितः: was released/freed
• मोचितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate in passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; passive sense

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Illustrates pāśa as social bondage (jñāti-saṃyoga): kinship ties can bind and obstruct dharmic freedom; the implied remedy in the larger Śaiva frame is Śiva’s anugraha and right detachment.

Characters & Entities

• Dadhichi

FAQs

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

It highlights how worldly association (especially attachment to one’s own people) can become a subtle bond, delaying freedom—pointing the seeker toward vairagya (dispassion) and Shiva-centered liberation.

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

In Jyotirlinga-centered narration, the verse contrasts social entanglement with the liberating refuge of Saguna Shiva worship—turning the mind from clan-identity to devotion (bhakti) and surrender to Shiva as Pati (the Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to reduce attachment and regularly anchor oneself in Shiva-upasana—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a disciplined, detached mind; external marks like bhasma/rudraksha are supportive when joined to inner renunciation.