Shloka 73

मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach

to the Sage

Devanagari script

अथाहन्द्रुतमागत्याकथयम्मेनकां च ताम् । शिवतत्त्वं च परमं कुज्ञानहरमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

athāhandrutamāgatyākathayammenakāṃ ca tām | śivatattvaṃ ca paramaṃ kujñānaharamuttamam

Translation

Dann sagte er: „Komm schnell und berichte es auch Menakā—lehre sie das höchste Śiva-Tattva, die erhabenste Wahrheit, die falsches und verirrtes Wissen vertreibt.“

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (sequence marker: ‘then’)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative), ‘quickly’

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having come’

• अकथयम्: I told / narrated
• अकथयम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु, णिजन्त causative of कथ्)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• मेनकाम्: Menakā
• मेनकाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेनका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition to मेनकाम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शिव-तत्त्वम्: the principle/reality of Śiva
• शिव-तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; thing narrated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘of Śiva’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying शिवतत्त्वम्)

• कु-ज्ञान-हरम्: removing false knowledge
• कु-ज्ञान-हरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (‘bad/false knowledge’ + ‘remover’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of शिवतत्त्वम्)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Parvati (in the Parvatikhanda dialogue context, urging instruction on Shiva-tattva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Menaka

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that realization of Śiva-tattva is the highest knowledge, specifically described as that which destroys ku-jñāna (misconception/false understanding), leading the seeker toward right vision and liberation.

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

Śiva-tattva can be approached through Saguna worship—such as reverence to the Śiva-liṅga—which purifies the mind and corrects wrong notions, preparing one to grasp the supreme reality of Śiva beyond confusion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śravaṇa and manana—listening to and reflecting on teachings about Śiva—supported by daily Śiva worship (liṅga-pūjā), japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and disciplined conduct that reduces delusion.