Shloka 21

अन्धकानुग्रहः—शूलारोपणं, रुद्रस्मरण-फलम्, तथा गाणपत्य-प्रदानम् (अध्याय 93)

Devanagari script

हिरण्यनेत्रतनयं शूलाग्रस्थं सुरेश्वरः प्रोवाच दानवं प्रेक्ष्य घृणया नीललोहितः

Transliteration

hiraṇyanetratanayaṃ śūlāgrasthaṃ sureśvaraḥ provāca dānavaṃ prekṣya ghṛṇayā nīlalohitaḥ

Translation

ഹിരണ്യനേത്രന്റെ പുത്രനായ ദാനവൻ ശൂലത്തിന്റെ അഗ്രത്തിൽ കുത്തിക്കിടക്കുന്നതു കണ്ട ദേവേശ്വരൻ നീലലോഹിതൻ കരുണയോടെ അവനോട് സംസാരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• हिरण्यनेत्र-तनयम्: the son of Hiraṇyanetra

• शूल-अग्र-स्थम्: stationed on/impaled upon the tip of the trident

• सुर-ईश्वरः: the Lord of the gods (Pati, the divine sovereign)

• प्रोवाच: spoke, addressed

• दानवम्: the Dānava (asura)

• प्रेक्ष्य: having seen

• घृणया: with compassion, mercy

• नील-लोहितः: Nīlalohita (a form/name of Rudra-Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva/Nīlalohita’s act and ensuing address within the story)

Characters & Entities

• Nīlalohita (Shiva/Rudra)
• Hiraṇyanetra
• Dānava

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It portrays Shiva as Pati—both the chastiser of adharma and the compassionate liberator—supporting the Linga tradition where worship is not mere appeasement, but a turning of the Pashu (soul) away from Pāśa (bondage) toward grace.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva-tattva is shown as simultaneously fierce and merciful: even when the asuric force is subdued (on the trident), Nīlalohita responds with ghṛṇā, indicating that divine punishment is ultimately corrective and oriented toward liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse implies the Pāśupata principle that Shiva’s śakti removes pāśa through discipline and grace; the practical takeaway is surrender (śaraṇāgati) and inner restraint—core attitudes behind Pashupata Yoga and Shaiva puja aimed at purification.