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
彼は来世において真に吉祥なるもの—すなわち自らの魂に実際の安楽をもたらすもの—を少しも悟らない。魔族の雄アンダカは常に迷妄に沈み、慢心により知性の眼を塞がれ、悪しき者どもと固く交わっていた。
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.