Shloka 31

मेना-हिमालयसंवादः

Menā’s Counsel to Himālaya; Response to Slander of Śiva

Devanagari script

मां ज्ञात्वा तौ परं ब्रह्म दम्पती परभक्तितः । दातुकामावभूतां च स्वसुतां वेदरीतितः

Transliteration

māṃ jñātvā tau paraṃ brahma dampatī parabhaktitaḥ | dātukāmāvabhūtāṃ ca svasutāṃ vedarītitaḥ

Translation

എന്നെ പരബ്രഹ്മമായി തിരിച്ചറിഞ്ഞ്, ആ ദമ്പതികൾ പരമഭക്തിയോടെ, വേദവിധിപ്രകാരം സ്വന്തം പുത്രിയെ ദാനം (വിവാഹാർഥം) ചെയ്യാൻ ആഗ്രഹികളായി।

Word by Word

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• jñātvā: having known/recognizing
• jñātvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with brahma

• brahma: Brahman/the Absolute
• brahma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dampatī: the couple (husband and wife)
• dampatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dampatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); ‘husband and wife’ as a dual noun

• para-bhaktitaḥ: through supreme devotion
• para-bhaktitaḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तसिल्/ततः-प्रत्ययार्थ), ‘from/through supreme devotion’; tatpuruṣa base ‘parā bhaktiḥ’ + -tas

• dātu-kāmau: desirous to give
• dātu-kāmau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dā (दा धातु) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); infinitive (तुमुन्) dātu ‘to give’ + kāma ‘desirous’ → ‘desirous to give’

• abhūtām: became/were
• abhūtām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Aorist/Imperfect (लुङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• sva-sutām: their own daughter
• sva-sutām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sutā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya ‘own daughter’

• veda-rītitaḥ: according to Vedic injunction/tradition
• veda-rītitaḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + rīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (तसिल्/ततः-प्रत्ययार्थ), ‘according to Vedic rule/tradition’; tatpuruṣa base ‘vedasya rītiḥ’ + -tas

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames the sages’ Vedicly-sanctioned intent to offer their daughter (Pārvatī) in marriage after recognizing Śiva as Parabrahman.

Significance: Establishes the doctrinal basis for Śiva as Parabrahman and legitimizes Śaiva dharma within Vedic maryādā—seen as meritorious śraddhā and bhakti leading to Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a core Shaiva teaching: true recognition of Shiva as Parabrahman naturally ripens into parā-bhakti, which then expresses itself as dharmic, Veda-aligned conduct rather than mere emotion.

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

Although it speaks of Shiva as the Supreme Brahman (nirguṇa reality), the response is devotional and practical—showing how realization of the highest truth supports saguna worship and righteous ritual order in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to unite devotion with śāstra: maintain steady bhakti (e.g., japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while performing duties and rites in a Vedic, disciplined manner.