Shloka 74

Andhakeśvara-liṅga Māhātmya and Śiva’s Subjugation of Andhaka (अन्धकेश्वरलिङ्गमाहात्म्य तथा अन्धकवध-प्रसङ्ग)

Devanagari script

एवं च महिमा तेषां वर्द्धितः शङ्करेण हि । तस्माच्च वटुकाः श्रेष्ठाः पुरा विद्भिः प्रकीर्तिताः

Transliteration

evaṃ ca mahimā teṣāṃ varddhitaḥ śaṅkareṇa hi | tasmācca vaṭukāḥ śreṣṭhāḥ purā vidbhiḥ prakīrtitāḥ

Translation

अशा प्रकारे शंकरांनी त्यांच्या महिमेत निश्चयच वाढ केली. म्हणून प्राचीन काळी विद्वानांनी वटुकांना श्रेष्ठतम म्हणून कीर्तिले आहे.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• महिमा: greatness; glory
• महिमा: Karta (कर्ता/विषयः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय (subject)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• वर्द्धितः: increased; augmented
• वर्द्धितः: Karma (कर्म/कर्मणि-भावः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate agreeing with महिमा

• शङ्करेण: by Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शङ्करेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/कर्तृ-हेतु (agent in passive)

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक निपात (for/indeed)

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-शब्दः; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः, अपादानार्थे (ablatival adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• वटुकाः: young brahmacārins; boys (vaṭukas)
• वटुकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वटुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्ता (subject)

• श्रेष्ठाः: excellent; best
• श्रेष्ठाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying वटुकाः)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Sambandha (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (formerly)

• विद्भिः: by the learned
• विद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तृ-करण (agent/instrument)

• प्रकीर्तिताः: were proclaimed; were praised
• प्रकीर्तिताः: Karma (कर्म/कर्मणि-भावः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate of वटुकाः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Vatus (Vaṭukāḥ)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches that spiritual eminence is not self-made pride but grace-bestowed greatness: Śiva (Śaṅkara) increases the glory of those aligned with him, and the wise recognize such Śaiva excellence as truly “foremost.”

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By naming Śaṅkara as the one who augments their greatness, the verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s active compassion—worship of Śiva (including Liṅga-upāsanā) is portrayed as a living relationship where the Lord uplifts and ennobles his devotees/attendants.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is Śiva-bhakti with disciplined conduct like the Vaṭukas—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with Śaiva marks such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and a devotional lifestyle that invites Śiva’s grace.