Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

मेनावरलाभवर्णनम् — Description of Menā’s Attainment of Boons

and the worship leading to Umā’s advent

Devanagari script

असूत सा नागवधूपभोग्यं सुतमुत्तमम् । समुद्रबद्धसत्सख्यं मैनाकाभिधमद्भुतम्

Transliteration

asūta sā nāgavadhūpabhogyaṃ sutamuttamam | samudrabaddhasatsakhyaṃ mainākābhidhamadbhutam

Translation

彼女は最上にして不思議なる पुत्रを産んだ。その名をマイナー カ（Maināka）という。ナーガの乙女の夫としてふさわしく、海に結び留められ、海神と真実の友誼を固く結んでいた。

Word by Word

• असूत: gave birth
• असूत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• नाग-वधू-उपभोग्यम्: enjoyable to the serpent-maidens
• नाग-वधू-उपभोग्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक) + वधू (प्रातिपदिक) + उपभोग्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; उप-√भुज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): 'नागवधूनाम् उपभोग्यः'

• सुतम्: son
• सुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणम् (adjective) सुतम्-विशेषणम्

• समुद्र-बद्ध-सत्-सख्यम्: having noble friendship bound in the ocean
• समुद्र-बद्ध-सत्-सख्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + बद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √बन्ध्) + सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + सख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (determinative): 'समुद्रे बद्धं सत्सख्यं यस्य' (friendship with the good, bound/secured in the ocean)

• मैनाक-अभिधम्: named Maināka
• मैनाक-अभिधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मैनाक (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः: 'मैनाक इति अभिधा यस्य' (named Maināka)

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful
• अद्भुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणम् (adjective)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Mainaka
• Samudra (Ocean)
• Naga maiden (Nāgavadhū)

FAQs

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

It highlights how even mountains and oceans are woven into dharmic order through divinely guided lineage and alliances, revealing Shiva’s cosmos as an interconnected sacred reality where relationships (sakhya) uphold stability and purpose.

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

Though not directly about the Linga, the verse supports Saguna Shiva’s Purāṇic vision: the manifested world—beings, places, and lineages—becomes a field for devotion and remembrance, helping the devotee see Shiva’s governance in all created orders.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple takeaway is smaraṇa (devotional recollection): recite the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating Shiva’s presence in sacred geography and cosmic relationships, cultivating reverence and steadiness of mind.