Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31
हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon
जानाति किंचिन्न शुभं परत्र यदात्मनस्सौख्यकरं भवेद्धि । सदान्धको दैत्यवरस्स मूढो मदांधबुद्धिः कृतदुष्टसंगः
jānāti kiṃcinna śubhaṃ paratra yadātmanassaukhyakaraṃ bhaveddhi | sadāndhako daityavarassa mūḍho madāṃdhabuddhiḥ kṛtaduṣṭasaṃgaḥ
He does not understand what is truly auspicious for the hereafter—what would in fact bring happiness to his own self. Andhaka, foremost among the asuras, was ever deluded: his intellect blinded by arrogance, and his companionship firmly bound to the wicked.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddha-khaṇḍa account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
The verse warns that true śubha (spiritual good) is what benefits the ātman beyond death—humility, dharma, and devotion to Shiva—whereas pride and wicked association blind discernment and lead to downfall.
Andhaka’s tragedy is the refusal to turn toward Shiva as the gracious Saguna Lord (often worshiped as the Liṅga) who grants right understanding; without surrender and reverence, the mind remains madāndha (pride-blinded) and cannot receive Shiva’s anugraha (grace).
Avoid duṣṭa-saṅga and cultivate satsanga while practicing japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a humble intention, as an antidote to mada (ego) and as a means to align with what is truly śubha for the hereafter.