Shloka 3

मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach

to the Sage

Devanagari script

मेनोवाच । मुने पुरा त्वया प्रोक्तं वरिष्यति शिवा शिवम् । पश्चाद्धिमवतः कृत्यं पूजार्थं विनिवेशितम्

Transliteration

menovāca | mune purā tvayā proktaṃ variṣyati śivā śivam | paścāddhimavataḥ kṛtyaṃ pūjārthaṃ viniveśitam

Translation

Menā said: “O sage, you had formerly declared that Śivā (Pārvatī) would choose Śiva as her lord. Thereafter, the duty to be undertaken by Himavat—arranging what is required for worship—was duly set in motion.”

Word by Word

• मेनो-उवाच: Menā said
• मेनो-उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मेना (प्रातिपदिक) + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘मेना’ कर्तृ-निर्देशार्थं नाम-पूर्वपद (speaker tag)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (formerly/once)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-निर्देश/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री (सर्वनाम), तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्ता-निर्देश), एकवचन

• प्रोक्तम्: (it was) said
• प्रोक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/told’

• वरिष्यति: will choose
• वरिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शिवा: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर/कालवाचक (afterwards)

• हिमवतः: of Himavat
• हिमवतः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• कृत्यम्: the duty/act
• कृत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘duty/act to be done’

• पूजा-अर्थम्: for worship
• पूजा-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् (for the purpose of worship)

• विनिवेशितम्: was arranged/placed
• विनिवेशितम्: Kriya (क्रिया—कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नि + विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘placed/arranged’

Speaker

Menā

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Himavat

FAQs

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

It affirms the divinely ordered union of Śivā (Pārvatī) with Śiva and highlights that true devotion expresses itself through dharma—rightly arranged worship and service offered to the Lord.

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

By emphasizing “pūjārtha” (for worship), it points to Saguna upāsanā—approaching Śiva through tangible rites and honors (commonly including Liṅga-pūjā), which Shaiva Siddhanta treats as a valid means to purify the soul and mature devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse suggests preparing and establishing the essentials of Śiva-pūjā—regular worship with reverence; in practice this is commonly supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) alongside disciplined daily observances.