Shloka 26

मेना-हिमालयसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

देवानां दुःखमुत्पन्नं ता रकात्सुदुरात्मनः । ब्रह्मणा च वरौ दत्तः किं करोमि दुरासदः

Transliteration

devānāṃ duḥkhamutpannaṃ tā rakātsudurātmanaḥ | brahmaṇā ca varau dattaḥ kiṃ karomi durāsadaḥ

Translation

От того злодея Тараки возникло великое страдание для богов. И раз Брахма даровал ему дары, что могу я сделать против того, кого столь трудно одолеть?

Word by Word

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/Genitive), बहुवचन

• दुःखम्: sorrow, distress
• दुःखम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; here as subject of ‘utpannam’

• उत्पन्नम्: arisen
• उत्पन्नम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत् + पद् (धातु) → उत्पन्न (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘दुःखम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• तारकात्: from Tāraka
• तारकात्: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case/Ablative), एकवचन

• सु-दुरात्मनः: of the very wicked one
• सु-दुरात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive apposition to ‘तारकात्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (अतिदुरात्मा)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karaṇa (करण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/Instrumental), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वरौ: two boons
• वरौ: Karma (कर्म/Object; things granted)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), द्विवचन

• दत्तः: given
• दत्तः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; (अत्र ‘दत्तौ’ अपेक्षितम्—‘वरौ’ द्विवचनस्य विशेषणम्; पाठ/लिङ्ग-समन्वय-भेद सम्भवः)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• करोमि: do I do / shall I do
• करोमि: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दुरासदः: hard to approach/overcome
• दुरासदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरासद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विशेषण (speaker/self-reference)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (inferred, responding to the Devas’ plight regarding Tārakāsura in the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Tāraka
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights that worldly power—even when protected by boons—cannot override cosmic order (dharma). The Devas’ suffering becomes a prompt for seeking the Supreme Lord’s higher will, showing that protection and liberation ultimately depend on Shiva’s grace rather than mere celestial privileges.

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

The verse points to Saguna Shiva as the compassionate, responsive Lord who intervenes in the world when dharma is threatened. Linga-worship embodies approaching Shiva as the accessible Supreme (Pati) who can dissolve seemingly “invincible” obstacles created by karma, arrogance, or boon-born pride.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (surrender) expressed through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and steady Linga-pūjā with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa, seeking Shiva’s protection when difficulties appear insurmountable.