Shloka 8
अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka
Genealogy and Nature
माहात्म्यमेतद्वृषभध्वजस्य श्रुत्वा मुनिर्गंधवतीसुतो हि । वचो महार्थं प्रणिपत्य भक्त्या ह्युवाच तं ब्रह्मसुतं मुनींद्रम्
māhātmyametadvṛṣabhadhvajasya śrutvā munirgaṃdhavatīsuto hi | vaco mahārthaṃ praṇipatya bhaktyā hyuvāca taṃ brahmasutaṃ munīṃdram
Hearing this account of the glory of the Bull-bannered Lord (Śiva), the sage—son of Gaṃdhavatī—bowed down in devotion. Then, honoring the profound import of those words, he addressed that foremost of sages, the son of Brahmā.
Gaṃdhavatī’s son (a sage) addressing Brahmā’s son (a great sage)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It highlights śravaṇa (devout listening) and praṇipāta (humble surrender) as the proper Shaiva response to Shiva-mahātmyā—receiving sacred teaching with reverence, which ripens bhakti and supports liberation-oriented understanding.
By praising Vṛṣabhadhvaja (a Saguna form of Śiva) and showing devotional prostration after hearing His glory, the verse reflects the Purāṇic pattern where hearing and honoring Shiva’s attributes naturally lead to concrete worship—often through Liṅga-pūjā and reverential approach to Shaiva teaching.
The implied practice is śravaṇa of Shiva-kathā followed by namaskāra/prostration and respectful questioning of a realized teacher; this can be paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as a devotional continuation of the hearing.