Shloka 71
Andhakeśvara-liṅga Māhātmya and Śiva’s Subjugation of Andhaka (अन्धकेश्वरलिङ्गमाहात्म्य तथा अन्धकवध-प्रसङ्ग)
कथं च पतितः सोऽत्र ब्राह्मणा ब्रूत सत्यतः । ते पृष्टाश्च तदा प्रोचुर्ब्राह्मणाः पण्डितोत्तमाः
kathaṃ ca patitaḥ so'tra brāhmaṇā brūta satyataḥ | te pṛṣṭāśca tadā procurbrāhmaṇāḥ paṇḍitottamāḥ
“And how did he fall into this state here? O Brāhmaṇas, speak the truth.” Thus questioned then, those Brāhmaṇas—foremost among the learned—began to speak.
Suta Goswami (narrative voice introducing a questioned reply within the Jyotirlinga-related story)
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: The king presses for truthful explanation—an essential narrative move in many sthala-purāṇas where a puzzling sign is resolved by revealing Śiva’s līlā and the hidden merit of a devotee.
Significance: Encourages satya (truthfulness) and śāstra-based testimony as the means to interpret sacred events; pilgrimage is framed as learning through inquiry.
FAQs
It frames a dharmic inquiry: the cause of “fall” (patana) must be examined truthfully, implying that ethical decline and its remedy are understood through honest narration and right discernment under Shiva’s overarching moral order.
In Kotirudra contexts, stories of decline and redemption typically lead toward Shiva’s grace through Jyotirlinga pilgrimage or Linga-bhakti; truthful hearing (śravaṇa) and inquiry prepare the devotee for corrective devotion to Saguna Shiva.
The immediate practice is śravaṇa and satya-vacana—listening attentively to sacred account and maintaining truthfulness—often paired in Shaiva practice with japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a means to purify causes of downfall.