Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 99

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

अंधकारि मखद्वेषी विष्णुकंधरपातनः । हीनदोषोऽक्षयगुणो दक्षारिः पूषदंतभित्

Transliteration

aṃdhakāri makhadveṣī viṣṇukaṃdharapātanaḥ | hīnadoṣo'kṣayaguṇo dakṣāriḥ pūṣadaṃtabhit

Translation

祂是诛灭安达卡（Andhaka）者，是憎恶祭祀傲慢之敌，亦是令毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）俯首者。祂无有缺失，具足不坏功德；祂是达克沙（Dakṣa）傲慢之敌，亦是击碎普尚（Pūṣan）牙齿者。

Word by Word

• अन्धक-अरिः: enemy of Andhaka
• अन्धक-अरिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धक (प्रातिपदिक) + अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अन्धकस्य अरिः)

• मख-द्वेषी: hater of sacrifice (ritual)
• मख-द्वेषी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मख (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वेषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मखस्य द्वेषी)

• विष्णु-कन्धर-पातनः: one who fells Vishnu’s neck (i.e., strikes down)
• विष्णु-कन्धर-पातनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + कन्धर (प्रातिपदिक) + पातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः कन्धरस्य पातनः)

• हीन-दोषः: free from faults
• हीन-दोषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक) + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (हीनः दोषः यस्मात्/यस्य)

• अक्षय-गुणः: of imperishable qualities
• अक्षय-गुणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अक्षयः गुणः यस्य)

• दक्ष-अरिः: enemy of Daksha
• दक्ष-अरिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दक्षस्य अरिः)

• पूषन्-दन्त-भित्: breaker of Pūṣan’s teeth
• पूषन्-दन्त-भित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूषन् (प्रातिपदिक) + दन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + भिद् (धातु √भिद्, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘भित्’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (पूष्णः दन्तान् भिनत्ति इति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Epithets recall Dakṣa-yajña-dhvaṃsa: Śiva’s opposition to egoistic sacrifice (makha) and the humbling of devas (Viṣṇu, Pūṣan) when yajña is severed from devotion and humility.

Significance: Reminds pilgrims that ritual without bhakti and right disposition becomes ‘makha-garva’; Śiva’s grace restores dharma by destroying arrogance.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Yajña-dhvaṃsa motif: cosmic rebalancing when dharma is distorted by pride; localized ‘pralaya’ within the sacrificial arena.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Daksha
• Pushan
• Andhaka

FAQs

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

The verse praises Shiva as Pati—the flawless Lord whose imperishable virtues dissolve darkness (ignorance) and humble even the greatest powers, teaching that liberation comes through surrender and removal of ego, not through pride in status or ritual.

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

These names point to Shiva’s Saguna acts—protecting dharma by subduing arrogance (Daksha’s yajña) and destroying demonic darkness (Andhaka). Linga-worship centers on this same truth: the visible symbol leads the devotee to the Lord beyond ritualistic pride.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is humble japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with devotion, accompanied by inner renunciation of ego; outwardly, one may honor Shiva with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to overcome ignorance and pride.