Shloka 15

मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach

to the Sage

Devanagari script

सर्वान् देववरांस्त्यक्त्वा विष्ण्वादीन्परमेश्वरान् । कृतं त्वया कुबुद्ध्या वै शिवार्थं तप ईदृशम्

Transliteration

sarvān devavarāṃstyaktvā viṣṇvādīnparameśvarān | kṛtaṃ tvayā kubuddhyā vai śivārthaṃ tapa īdṛśam

Translation

Abandoning all the excellent gods—Vishnu and the other supreme deities—you, with misguided understanding, have undertaken such austerity for Shiva’s sake.

Word by Word

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Karma (कर्म; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural; विशेषणम्

• deva-varān: excellent gods
• deva-varān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (devā eva varāḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• tyaktvā: having abandoned
• tyaktvā: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund) — ‘having abandoned’

• viṣṇu-ādīn: Viṣṇu and others
• viṣṇu-ādīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (ādi-शब्देन समाहार/गण); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural; ‘Viṣṇu and others’

• parameśvarān: supreme lords
• parameśvarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• kṛtam: was done
• kṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘done’

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Instrumental Singular

• ku-buddhyā: with foolish intellect
• ku-buddhyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ku- (उपसर्ग/निपात) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (kubuddhi = ‘bad intellect’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• śiva-artham: for Śiva’s sake
• śiva-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष/प्रयोजनार्थ (śivāya arthaḥ / śivasya arthaḥ); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular; प्रयोजन (purpose)

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular

• īdṛśam: such/like this
• īdṛśam: Karma (कर्म; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īdṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; विशेषणम् (qualifies tapaḥ)

Speaker

A divine interlocutor in the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa narrative (addressing the ascetic devotee)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it reflects sectarian/social critique: the devotee is accused of abandoning other deities to perform tapas for Śiva.

Significance: General teaching (Śaiva Siddhānta framing): devotion to Śiva as Pati is not ‘misguided’ but the highest orientation; other deities function within Śiva’s cosmic order.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It cautions that even austerity performed for Shiva should be guided by right discernment (sadbuddhi); devotion without proper understanding can become spiritually misdirected.

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

It implies that Shiva-worship (including Linga worship) is not merely external effort; the inner attitude and clarity of purpose must align with Shiva-tattva, otherwise tapas becomes flawed despite being ‘for Shiva.’

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to pair tapas with correct Shaiva orientation—steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined worship, rather than extreme acts driven by confusion or ego.