Shloka 28

अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka

Genealogy and Nature

Devanagari script

कालेऽथ तस्मिञ्शिशिरे प्रयातो हिरण्यनेत्रस्त्वथ पुत्रकामः । स्वज्येष्ठबंधोस्तनयप्रतानं संवीक्ष्य चासीत्प्रियया नियुक्तः

Transliteration

kāle'tha tasmiñśiśire prayāto hiraṇyanetrastvatha putrakāmaḥ | svajyeṣṭhabaṃdhostanayapratānaṃ saṃvīkṣya cāsītpriyayā niyuktaḥ

Translation

Then, in that season of winter, Hiraṇyanetra set out, longing for a son. Seeing the flourishing line of children of his elder brother, he was urged on by his beloved wife (to obtain offspring).

Word by Word

• kāle: in (that) time
• kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; time-locative

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/conjunctive indeclinable (अनन्तरार्थक/मङ्गलार्थक)

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• śiśire: in winter
• śiśire: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiśira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; season-locative

• prayātaḥ: having departed / gone forth
• prayātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√yā (या धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत्: क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; used predicatively

• hiraṇyanetraḥ: Hiraṇyanetra (golden-eyed)
• hiraṇyanetraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hiraṇya + netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name/epithet

• tu: indeed / but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/conjunctive indeclinable

• putra-kāmaḥ: desiring a son
• putra-kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: putra + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘putrasya kāmaḥ’

• sva-jyeṣṭha-bandhoḥ: of his own elder kinsman/brother
• sva-jyeṣṭha-bandhoḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + jyeṣṭha + bandhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; ‘one’s elder kinsman/brother’

• tanaya-pratānam: the line/series of sons
• tanaya-pratānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanaya + pratāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘tanayānāṃ pratānaḥ’ (offspring-line)

• saṃvīkṣya: having observed
• saṃvīkṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√īkṣ (ईक्ष् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय: ल्यप्), ‘having seen/observed’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• priyayā: by (his) beloved (wife)
• priyayā: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent-in-passive (कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; agent/means in passive sense

• niyuktaḥ: urged/appointed
• niyuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√yuj (युज् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत्: क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘appointed/urged’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyanetra

FAQs

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

It shows how worldly aims (like progeny) arise from comparison and family circumstance, and how a householder is directed toward right action; in Shaiva thought, such aims are fulfilled best when aligned with dharma and sought with Shiva’s grace rather than mere craving.

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

The verse sets the motive (putrakāma) that typically leads a devotee to undertake Shiva-oriented vows, worship, or pilgrimages; Saguna Shiva as the compassionate Lord is approached for orderly family life, while remembering that ultimate fulfillment culminates in devotion and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A traditional takeaway is putrakāma-oriented Shiva worship: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” Linga-abhisheka with purity and restraint, and observing vrata on Mondays or Mahāśivarātri while maintaining dharmic conduct.