Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । दधीचिर्नाम विप्रो यो धर्मिष्ठो वेदपारगः । शिवभक्तिरतो नित्यं शिवशास्त्रपरायणः

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | dadhīcirnāma vipro yo dharmiṣṭho vedapāragaḥ | śivabhaktirato nityaṃ śivaśāstraparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

苏多说道：“有一位婆罗门名为达提奇（Dadhīci），至为持法，通达吠陀；恒常沉浸于对湿婆（Śiva）的虔敬，并专心依止宣说湿婆之圣典。”

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दधीचिः: Dadhīci
• दधीचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधीचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः (indeclinable ‘by name’)

• विप्रः: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative pronoun)

• धर्मिष्ठः: most righteous
• धर्मिष्ठः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अतिशयार्थक-इष्ठ (superlative)

• वेदपारगः: knower/master of the Vedas
• वेदपारगः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (वेदेषु पारगः)

• शिवभक्तिरतः: devoted to Śiva-bhakti
• शिवभक्तिरतः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (शिवे भक्तौ रतः)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• शिवशास्त्रपरायणः: wholly devoted to Śiva’s scriptures
• शिवशास्त्रपरायणः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (शिवशास्त्रे परायणः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes the paradigm of the ideal paśu: Veda-competence joined to Śiva-bhakti and śivaśāstra-niṣṭhā, leading toward pāśa-kṣaya by Śiva’s anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dadhichi

FAQs

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

It presents Dadhīci as the Shaiva ideal: mastery of Vedic knowledge joined with unwavering devotion to Śiva and fidelity to Śaiva scripture—showing that right conduct (dharma) and bhakti together mature the soul toward Śiva’s grace.

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

By stressing constant Śiva-bhakti and commitment to Śiva’s teachings, it points to Saguna worship—such as Linga-upāsanā—guided by śāstra, where devotion is disciplined and directed toward Śiva as the accessible Lord (Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is nitya-śivabhakti: daily Śiva-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with śāstra-guided worship such as offering to the Liṅga and maintaining Śaiva conduct.