Shloka 22
अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka
Genealogy and Nature
जाते प्रकाशे सति घोररूपो जातोंधकारादपि नेत्रहीनः । तादृग्विधं तं च निरीक्ष्य भूतं पप्रच्छ गौरी पुरुषं महेशम्
jāte prakāśe sati ghorarūpo jātoṃdhakārādapi netrahīnaḥ | tādṛgvidhaṃ taṃ ca nirīkṣya bhūtaṃ papraccha gaurī puruṣaṃ maheśam
When light arose, there appeared a being of dreadful form—born of darkness and yet bereft of eyes. Seeing such a creature, Gaurī questioned the Supreme Person, Mahēśa (Śiva), about him.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Īśāna
FAQs
The verse contrasts illumination with the emergence of a fearsome, eyeless being born of darkness—symbolizing ignorance (tamas) that persists until it is understood and resolved under Śiva’s guidance. Gaurī’s inquiry reflects the seeker’s need to question the Lord (Pati) so that obscurity is transformed into right knowledge.
Gaurī turns to Mahēśa as the accessible, saguna Lord who explains and governs the unfolding of events. In Linga-worship, Śiva is approached as the luminous principle that reveals truth and dissolves inner darkness, even when frightening manifestations arise in the world of names and forms.
A practical takeaway is to invoke Śiva as inner light through japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and to cultivate viveka (discernment) when confronted by fear or confusion; Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa can be adopted as reminders of detachment and Śiva’s protection.