Shloka 86

मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach

to the Sage

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्समये तस्या हठं श्रुत्वा दृढं महत् । द्रुतं शिवप्रियो विष्णुस्समागत्याऽब्रवीदिदम्

Transliteration

etasminsamaye tasyā haṭhaṃ śrutvā dṛḍhaṃ mahat | drutaṃ śivapriyo viṣṇussamāgatyā'bravīdidam

Translation

At that time, hearing of her great and steadfast resolve, Viṣṇu—ever dear to Lord Śiva—quickly arrived and spoke these words.

Word by Word

• etasmin: in this
• etasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma-adjective (सर्वनाम-विशेषण); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• samaye: time/occasion
• samaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• haṭham: obstinacy/forceful insistence
• haṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त); having heard; expresses prior action

• dṛḍham: firm/strong
• dṛḍham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially qualifying haṭham

• mahat: great
• mahat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying haṭham

• drutam: quickly
• drutam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय) used as adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• śiva-priyaḥ: dear to Śiva
• śiva-priyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) genitive-relation sense: ‘dear to Śiva’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• samāgatya: having arrived
• samāgatya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त); having come/arrived

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्) Aorist; Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• idam: this (statement)
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; Viṣṇu’s swift arrival ‘as Śiva-priya’ functions as divine mediation supporting the destined Śiva–Pārvatī union.

Significance: Highlights harmony of deities in service of Śiva’s will; encourages devotees to see obstacles as resolved through divine counsel and grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights niścaya (firm resolve) in devotion: Parvati’s unwavering intention draws divine attention, showing that sincere tapas and bhakti naturally invite grace and guidance aligned with Shiva’s will.

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

By calling Vishnu “śiva-priya,” the text frames Saguna Shiva as the supreme center of devotion, with other deities acting in harmony with Shiva’s līlā; such harmony supports focused Shiva-upāsanā, including Linga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is steadfast japa and tapas with single-pointed intent—classically supported by Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) japa and disciplined vrata—since firm resolve is portrayed as the catalyst for divine guidance.