Shloka 10

मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach

to the Sage

Devanagari script

हित्वा तु चन्दनं भूयो लेपितः कर्दमस्त्वया । हंसमुड्डीय काको वै गृहीतो हस्तपञ्जरे

Transliteration

hitvā tu candanaṃ bhūyo lepitaḥ kardamastvayā | haṃsamuḍḍīya kāko vai gṛhīto hastapañjare

Translation

Abandoning sandal-paste, you have again smeared yourself with mud. Flying up to seize a swan, you have instead caught only a crow within the cage of your hands.

Word by Word

• हित्वा: having left
• हित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययभाव कृदन्त (gerund/क्त्वान्त), ‘having abandoned’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), contrast/emphasis

• चन्दनम्: sandalwood (paste)
• चन्दनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• भूयः: again/more
• भूयः: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), पुनः/अधिकम्

• लेपितः: smeared
• लेपितः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कर्दमः: mud
• कर्दमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; pronoun

• हंसम्: swan
• हंसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• उड्डीय: having flown up
• उड्डीय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + डि (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययभाव कृदन्त (gerund/ल्यबन्त), ‘having flown up’

• काकः: crow
• काकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis

• गृहीतः: caught/taken
• गृहीतः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हस्तपञ्जरे: in the cage of the hand (in the hand’s grasp)
• हस्तपञ्जरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त + पञ्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (हस्तस्य पञ्जरे)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing through a pointed analogy)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It warns that when one abandons purity and discernment (symbolized by sandal paste and the swan) and falls back into confusion and lesser aims (mud and the crow), even strong effort can yield the wrong result. Shaiva teaching emphasizes viveka and inner śuddhi so that aspiration aligns with Shiva-oriented liberation.

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

Linga-worship trains the mind toward the highest (the ‘haṃsa’—pure, discriminating awareness) through disciplined devotion. If worship becomes merely external or ego-driven, the seeker may ‘catch the crow’—settling for lower fruits instead of Shiva-realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prioritize śaucā (purity) and steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with sincere bhakti. Let outer marks like bhasma or offerings support inner transformation, not replace it.