Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

अथाज्ञाय प्रसन्नं तं महेशं वृषभध्वजम् । नमस्कृत्य स्वयं तस्य ह्युत्संगे तं न्यवेशयत्

Transliteration

athājñāya prasannaṃ taṃ maheśaṃ vṛṣabhadhvajam | namaskṛtya svayaṃ tasya hyutsaṃge taṃ nyaveśayat

Translation

Then, understanding that Maheśa—the Bull-bannered Lord—was pleased, he bowed to Him and, with his own hands, placed the child upon the Lord’s lap.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: आरम्भ/अनन्तर-निर्देशक-अव्यय (sequence marker)

• आज्ञाय: having known/understood
• आज्ञाय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• प्रसन्नम्: pleased
• प्रसन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (pronoun)

• महेशम्: Maheśa
• महेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (proper noun)

• वृषभध्वजम्: (him) whose banner is the bull
• वृषभध्वजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (वृषभः ध्वजः यस्य सः)

• नमस्कृत्य: having bowed/saluted
• नमस्कृत्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘नमस्कृत्य’ = नमस्कारं कृत्वा

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

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/indeed)

• उत्सङ्गे: in the lap
• उत्सङ्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न्यवेशयत्: placed/settled
• न्यवेशयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अव + विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative) — ‘caused to sit/place’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahesha, Vrishabhadhvaja)

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on Shiva’s prasāda (grace): when the Lord is pleased, the devotee responds with namaskāra (humble surrender), and the relationship becomes intimate—Shiva accepts and uplifts the soul (paśu) through compassion.

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

Though Jyotirlinga pilgrimage is central to the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā, this verse shows the inner meaning: Saguna Shiva is personally approachable. Linga-worship culminates in recognizing the Lord’s living presence and grace, not merely external ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice namaskāra with the Panchākṣarī mantra—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—cultivating the bhāva that Shiva is prasanna (gracious). In daily pūjā, offer respectful prostration after abhiṣeka, holding the mind in surrender and gratitude.