Shloka 31

मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach

to the Sage

Devanagari script

कृपया च भवत्पुत्र्यास्तपो दृष्ट्वातिदुस्सहम् । दर्शनं दत्तवाञ्छम्भुर्वरं सद्भक्तवत्सलः

Transliteration

kṛpayā ca bhavatputryāstapo dṛṣṭvātidussaham | darśanaṃ dattavāñchambhurvaraṃ sadbhaktavatsalaḥ

Translation

Seeing, with compassion, the exceedingly difficult austerity performed by your daughter, Śambhu—ever affectionate to true devotees—granted her His divine vision and bestowed a boon.

Word by Word

• kṛpayā: by compassion/out of mercy
• kṛpayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adverbial ‘out of compassion’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय), indeclinable

• bhavat-putryāḥ: of your daughter
• bhavat-putryāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + putrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: ‘your daughter’s’ (भवत्-पुत्री)

• tapaḥ: austerity/penance
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable; ‘having seen’

• ati-dussaham: extremely hard to bear
• ati-dussaham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + duḥsaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Avyayībhāva: ‘excessively unbearable’ qualifying ‘tapaḥ’

• darśanam: vision/darśan
• darśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dattavān: gave/has granted
• dattavān: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु) + ktavat (क्तवत्)
• Form: Past active participle (क्तवत्-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with ‘śambhuḥ’

• śambhuḥ: Śambhu (Śiva)
• śambhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• varam: a boon
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sat-bhakta-vatsalaḥ: loving toward true devotees
• sat-bhakta-vatsalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat + bhakta + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: ‘affectionate to true devotees’ (सद्-भक्त-वत्सल) qualifying ‘śambhuḥ’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya within the Parvati Khanda narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace): when devotion is sincere and disciplined (tapas), the Lord responds with darśana and a boon, showing that liberation-oriented progress is ultimately completed by divine compassion.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śambhu who can be directly experienced through darśana. In Linga-worship, the devotee similarly seeks the Lord’s presence and grace through steadfast bhakti and observance, culminating in inner and outer ‘vision’ of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady tapas supported by bhakti—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), vrata observance (especially Mahāśivarātri), and daily Śiva-pūjā—performed with endurance and sincerity to invite Śiva’s grace.