Shloka 122

Devanagari script

अनर्थितो गुणग्राही ह्यकर्ता कनकप्रभः । स्वभावभद्रो मध्यस्थ शत्रुघ्नो विघ्ननाशनः

Transliteration

anarthito guṇagrāhī hyakartā kanakaprabhaḥ | svabhāvabhadro madhyastha śatrughno vighnanāśanaḥ

Translation

Unsolicited, he yet recognizes virtue; though unbound by doership, he shines with golden splendor. Noble by nature and impartial, he destroys enemies and removes obstacles.

Word by Word

• अनर्थितः: unasked (acting without being requested)
• अनर्थितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्-अर्थित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (unrequested/unasked)

• गुण-ग्राही: one who accepts/appreciates virtues
• गुण-ग्राही: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्राहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (गुणान् गृह्णाति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• अकर्ता: non-agent/non-doer
• अकर्ता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकर्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (non-doer)

• कनक-प्रभः: golden-lustrous
• कनक-प्रभः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनक (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कनकवत् प्रभा यस्य/कनकसदृशप्रभः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्वभाव-भद्रः: good by nature
• स्वभाव-भद्रः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक) + भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (स्वभावेन भद्रः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मध्यस्थः: impartial/neutral
• मध्यस्थः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शत्रु-घ्नः: slayer of enemies
• शत्रु-घ्नः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (शत्रून् हन्ति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विघ्न-नाशनः: remover of obstacles
• विघ्न-नाशनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (विघ्नान् नाशयति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No direct sthala linkage; the themes ‘akartā’ and ‘madhyastha’ suit doctrinal exposition rather than place-māhātmya.

Significance: Encourages devotees to see Śiva as impartial and beyond doership—supporting surrender (śaraṇāgati) and reduction of egoic agency in pilgrimage and worship.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse praises Shiva as intrinsically auspicious and impartial, the Lord who is beyond egoic doership (akartā) yet actively uplifts devotees—destroying inner enemies like desire, anger, and delusion, and removing obstacles on the path to liberation.

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

In Linga and Saguna worship, devotees approach Shiva through his compassionate, accessible attributes—golden radiance, impartial grace, and obstacle-removal—while remembering his deeper transcendence as akartā, the Supreme beyond limited agency.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as vighna-nāśana while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering bilva leaves or water to the Linga with the intent to remove inner obstacles and cultivate impartial, virtuous conduct.