Shloka 53

मेना-हिमालयसंवादः

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

Devanagari script

यावन्न दृष्टमेतच्च तावत्स्वर्गपरा नराः । दृष्ट्रमेतद्यदा विप्राः किं स्वर्गेण प्रयोजनम्

Transliteration

yāvanna dṛṣṭametacca tāvatsvargaparā narāḥ | dṛṣṭrametadyadā viprāḥ kiṃ svargeṇa prayojanam

Translation

ตราบใดที่ความจริงนี้ (ตัตตวะแห่งพระศิวะ) ยังมิได้ประจักษ์ คนทั้งหลายย่อมมุ่งสวรรค์ แต่เมื่อได้เห็นจริงแล้ว โอ พราหมณ์ทั้งหลาย สวรรค์จะมีประโยชน์อันใดเล่า

Word by Word

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/सम्बन्धशब्द)
• Form: अव्यय; यावत्-तावत् सम्बन्ध (correlative: as long as)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• दृष्टम्: seen
• दृष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृष्ट (कृदन्त; √दृश् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (इदम्/एतत् इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• तावत्: till then
• तावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय/सम्बन्धशब्द)
• Form: अव्यय; यावत्-तावत् सम्बन्ध (correlative: till then/so long)

• स्वर्गपराः: intent on heaven
• स्वर्गपराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ग + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/निर्देश (स्वर्गे पराः = heaven-oriented)

• नराः: men
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दृष्टम्: seen
• दृष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृष्ट (कृदन्त; √दृश् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (एतत् इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• यदा: when
• यदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb: when)

• विप्राः: O brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे प्रयोगः (addressing)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• स्वर्गेण: with heaven / by heaven
• स्वर्गेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; साधन/सम्बन्धे (with regard to/with)

• प्रयोजनम्: purpose, use
• प्रयोजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse states a hierarchy of goals: until ‘etat’ (Śiva-tattva / direct realization) is seen, people chase svarga; upon true darśana/jñāna, svarga becomes purposeless—echoing mokṣa-supremacy over bhoga.

Significance: Frames pilgrimage/darśana as transformative: the kṣetra is not for worldly merit alone but for awakening that relativizes heaven itself.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts svarga (temporary heavenly enjoyment) with direct realization of Śiva, implying that once Pati (Śiva) is known, the soul naturally turns from impermanent rewards to mokṣa—union in grace and freedom from bondage.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna devotion are presented as means to attain Śiva’s darśana (direct experiential recognition). When that recognition dawns, the devotee’s aim transcends merit-based heavens and becomes steadfast in Śiva as the highest refuge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prioritize Śiva-sādhana aimed at realization—daily pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), meditation on the Linga, and purifying observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa—so the goal becomes Śiva-darśana rather than svarga.