Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

शिवं प्रसादयामास पुत्रार्थे चण्डिका स्वयम् । क्रुद्धाऽक्रुद्धा पुनश्चण्डी तत्पुत्रस्य प्रसन्नधीः

Transliteration

śivaṃ prasādayāmāsa putrārthe caṇḍikā svayam | kruddhā'kruddhā punaścaṇḍī tatputrasya prasannadhīḥ

Translation

Seeking a son, Caṇḍikā herself strove to propitiate Lord Śiva. Though she appeared now fierce and now gentle, that same Caṇḍī—her mind made serene—became gracious toward that son.

Word by Word

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रसादयामास: propitiated/made pleased
• प्रसादयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (periphrastic perfect/परस्मैपद-लिट्), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिच् (causative) भावः—प्रसन्नं कर्तुम्

• पुत्रार्थे: for (obtaining) a son
• पुत्रार्थे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (पुत्राय अर्थः) — ‘for the sake of a son’

• चण्डिका: Caṇḍikā
• चण्डिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वयम्: herself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वयम्-शब्दः, क्रियाविशेषण (emphatic adverb)

• क्रुद्धा: angry
• क्रुद्धा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अक्रुद्धा: not angry
• अक्रुद्धा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + क्रुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्गेण निषेधः (not angry)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• चण्डी: Caṇḍī
• चण्डी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (देवी-नाम)

• तत्पुत्रस्य: of that son
• तत्पुत्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य पुत्रः)

• प्रसन्नधीः: having a pleased mind
• प्रसन्नधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (प्रसन्ना धीः यस्याः सा)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Chandika (Chandi)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that Śiva is pleased through sincere propitiation (prasāda) and that inner composure (prasannadhī) transforms even fierce power into beneficence—showing devotion and grace as the bridge between human desire and divine blessing.

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

Propitiating Śiva here implies approaching Saguna Śiva—the accessible Lord who grants boons—often worshipped as the Śiva-liṅga in Purāṇic practice. The narrative emphasizes that devotion and right intent invite Śiva’s prasāda, which is central to liṅga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Śiva-prasādana through bhakti: daily liṅga-pūjā with water/abhisheka, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and maintaining a calm, sattvic mind (prasannadhī) while praying for righteous outcomes.