Shloka 20
शुक्रोत्पत्तिः तथा महेश्वरदर्शनम् (Śukra’s Emergence and the Vision of Maheśvara)
उक्तश्चाथ महादैत्यो महेशानेन सोंऽधकः । असुरस्सांत्वपूर्वं यत्कृतं सर्वं महात्मना
uktaścātha mahādaityo maheśānena soṃ'dhakaḥ | asurassāṃtvapūrvaṃ yatkṛtaṃ sarvaṃ mahātmanā
Then the great Daitya Andhaka was addressed by Maheśāna (Lord Śiva). The Asura heard in full whatever the great-souled Lord had done and spoken beforehand—first seeking to conciliate him with gentle counsel.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Ishana
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s role as compassionate Pati: even toward an asuric being, He first uses sāṃtva (gentle admonition) to turn the mind toward dharma before allowing the consequences of adharma to unfold.
Maheśāna here is Saguna Śiva—personally guiding and correcting. Linga-worship trains devotees to approach this same Lord with humility and receptivity to His instruction rather than ego-driven opposition like Andhaka.
Adopt sāṃtva in sādhanā: begin japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a calm, conciliatory mind, and apply self-restraint and confession of faults before seeking Śiva’s grace.