Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

नाममंत्राननेकांश्च पाठयामास वै तदा । उवाच सुप्रसन्नात्मा चण्डिका च शिवस्तथा

Transliteration

nāmamaṃtrānanekāṃśca pāṭhayāmāsa vai tadā | uvāca suprasannātmā caṇḍikā ca śivastathā

Translation

Then indeed he recited many name-mantras. At that time, with a heart wholly pleased, Caṇḍikā spoke—and Lord Śiva also spoke.

Word by Word

• नाममन्त्रान्: name-mantras
• नाममन्त्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाम + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; (नामरूपाः मन्त्राः)

• अनेकान्: many
• अनेकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• पाठयामास: made (them) recite / recited
• पाठयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Periphrastic Perfect/परस्मैपद-लिट्), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative: ‘caused to recite/recited’)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (emphatic particle)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Desha-Kala (देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (temporal adverb)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• सुप्रसन्नात्मा: one whose mind was very pleased
• सुप्रसन्नात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + प्रसन्न + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्; (सुप्रसन्नः आत्मा यस्य)

• चण्डिका: Caṇḍikā
• चण्डिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb; ‘likewise/also’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Jyotirlinga-related account within Koṭirudrasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umapati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The narrative moment marks the fruition of sustained nāma-mantra recitation: the Goddess (Caṇḍikā) and Śiva respond verbally, a classic purāṇic sign of mantra-siddhi and divine favor.

Significance: Hearing/reciting nāma-mantras is presented as a direct catalyst for darśana and vāṇī (divine speech), reinforcing bhakti as a vehicle for anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Chandika

FAQs

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

It highlights nāma-mantra-japa as a direct bhakti practice: when the mind becomes “suprasanna” (deeply clarified and joyful), divine response arises—here, the Goddess and Śiva both speak, indicating grace awakened through devotion.

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

Reciting Shiva’s names is a Saguna mode of approach—worshipping the Lord through accessible attributes and names—commonly paired with Linga-pūjā in Jyotirliṅga narratives, where mantra and worship invoke the Lord’s manifest blessing.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of Shiva nāma-mantras (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a settled, pleased mind; it may be integrated with Linga worship, vibhūti (tripuṇḍra), and rudrākṣa for focused Shaiva sādhanā.