Shloka 21

अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka

Genealogy and Nature

Devanagari script

श्रीमहेश उवाच । निमील्य नेत्राणि कृतं च कर्म बिभेषि साऽस्माद्दयिते कथं त्वम् । गौरी हरात्तद्वचनं निशम्य विहस्यमाना प्रमुमोच नेत्रे

Transliteration

śrīmaheśa uvāca | nimīlya netrāṇi kṛtaṃ ca karma bibheṣi sā'smāddayite kathaṃ tvam | gaurī harāttadvacanaṃ niśamya vihasyamānā pramumoca netre

Translation

Śrī Maheśa said: “Beloved, having closed your eyes and done that deed, why do you fear me now?” Hearing Hara’s words, Gaurī—smiling—opened her eyes.

Word by Word

• śrī-maheśaḥ: Śrī Maheśa
• śrī-maheśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदic) + maheśa (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (honorific: ‘glorious Maheśa’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• nimīlya: having closed
• nimīlya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni+√mīl (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल

• netrāṇi: eyes
• netrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), बहुवचन

• kṛtam: done
• kṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदic)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here predicate/nominal: ‘done’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• karma: deed/action
• karma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here apposition to kṛtam

• bibheṣi: you fear
• bibheṣi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhī (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• sā: she (you)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदic)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• asmāt: from me
• asmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदic)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी (Abl, 5th), एकवचन

• dayite: O beloved
• dayite: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dayita (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: सम्बोधन/सप्तमी-एकवचन रूप (Voc/Loc sg), पुंलिङ्ग; here सम्बोधन (address)

• katham: how
• katham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रश्नार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (interrogative adverb)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदic)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• gaurī: Gaurī
• gaurī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurī (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• harāt: from Hara (Śiva)
• harāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Abl), एकवचन

• tat-vacanam: that statement
• tat-vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदic) + vacana (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘that speech/words’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni+√śam (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having heard’

• vihasyamānā: smiling/laughing
• vihasyamānā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi+√has (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present middle participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• pramumoca: released/opened
• pramumoca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+√muc (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• netre: (her) two eyes
• netre: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), द्विवचन (dual)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Śrī Maheśa/Hara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva as the compassionate Lord who dissolves fear in the devotee; even when a deed leads to anxiety, turning to Hara reveals his protective, grace-filled nature and restores inner steadiness.

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

It supports Saguna Shiva-bhakti: the devotee relates to Shiva personally as Hara—one who responds, reassures, and grants refuge—mirroring how devotees approach the Śiva-liṅga as a living presence of protection and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is fear-removing japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with steady breath and inward focus (eyes gently closed), followed by opening the eyes with remembrance that Shiva is the protector.