Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

शूलेन शूलिना प्रोतं दग्धकल्मषकञ्चुकम् दृष्ट्वान्धकं ननादेशं प्रणम्य स पितामहः

Transliteration

śūlena śūlinā protaṃ dagdhakalmaṣakañcukam dṛṣṭvāndhakaṃ nanādeśaṃ praṇamya sa pitāmahaḥ

Translation

త్రిశూలధారి శూలినుని శూలంతో గుచ్చబడి, పాపావరణం దగ్ధమైన అంధకుని చూచి పితామహుడు బ్రహ్మా నమస్కరించి ఆశ్చర్యంతో నాదించాడు।

Word by Word

• śūlena: by the trident

• śūlinā: by the trident-bearer (Śiva)

• protaṃ: pierced, transfixed

• dagdha: burnt, scorched

• kalmaṣa: sin, moral impurity

• kañcukam: covering, cloak, sheath

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen

• andhakaṃ: Andhaka (the demon)

• nanādeśam: a loud cry/exclamation (of amazement or praise)

• praṇamya: having bowed, having paid obeisance

• saḥ: he

• pitāmahaḥ: the Grandfather (Brahmā)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating; internal action features Brahmā reacting to Śiva’s deed)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Andhaka
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva as Pati whose power burns away kalmaṣa (impurity) and subdues adharmic forces; Linga-worship aligns the paśu (soul) to that purifying grace, seeking release from pāśa (bondage).

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as the sovereign purifier: even when He punishes, His act is simultaneously a burning of sin—indicating compassionate mastery over bondage and karma, not mere destruction.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key takeaway is inner purification (śuddhi) by Śiva’s anugraha (grace): in Pāśupata-oriented practice this corresponds to burning impurities through devotion, mantra-japa, and surrender (praṇāma) to Pati.