Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

पुरान्धक इति ख्यातस् तपसा लब्धविक्रमः प्रसादाद्ब्रह्मणः साक्षाद् अवध्यत्वमवाप्य च

Transliteration

purāndhaka iti khyātas tapasā labdhavikramaḥ prasādādbrahmaṇaḥ sākṣād avadhyatvamavāpya ca

Translation

അവൻ ‘പുരാന്ധകൻ’ എന്ന പേരിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധനായി. തപസ്സിലൂടെ വീര്യം നേടി; സാക്ഷാൽ ബ്രഹ്മാവിന്റെ പ്രസാദത്താൽ അവധ്യത്വത്തിന്റെ വരവും ലഭിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• पुरा-अन्धकः: Pūrāndhaka (the one formerly called Andhaka)

• इति: thus

• ख्यातः: became famous/was known

• तपसा: by austerity (tapas)

• लब्ध-विक्रमः: having obtained prowess/valor

• प्रसादात्: by the favor/grace

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā

• साक्षात्: directly/in person

• अवध्यत्वम्: the state of being unslayable/invulnerable

• अवाप्य: having attained/obtained

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Andhaka

FAQs

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

It contrasts worldly boons gained by tapas (power/invulnerability) with the higher Shaiva aim: surrender to Pati (Śiva) through Linga-centered devotion, which alone cuts pasha (bondage) rather than inflating ego.

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

Implicitly, it shows that even “invincibility” granted by Brahmā is conditional within saṃsāra; Śiva as Pati transcends such limits, and only His anugraha leads the pashu beyond the net of pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity) is highlighted as a yogic force for gaining siddhi-like power; the Shaiva takeaway is that tapas must be yoked to Pashupata orientation—humility and devotion to Śiva—otherwise it reinforces bondage.