Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 45

मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach

to the Sage

Devanagari script

यद्वै द्वारगतश्शंभुः पुरा विकटरूपधृक् । नानालीलाञ्च कृतवाञ्चेतयामि च तामिमाम्

Transliteration

yadvai dvāragataśśaṃbhuḥ purā vikaṭarūpadhṛk | nānālīlāñca kṛtavāñcetayāmi ca tāmimām

Translation

میں اسی واقعے کو یاد کرتی ہوں—کہ قدیم زمانے میں شَمبھو دروازے پر آئے، ہیبت ناک روپ دھارا اور بہت سی لیلائیں کیں؛ اسی کو میں اب ذہن میں تازہ کرتی ہوں۔

Word by Word

• यत्: which/that (relative)
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed)

• द्वार-गतः: gone to/standing at the door
• द्वार-गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (द्वारे गतः)

• शंभुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: formerly)

• विकट-रूप-धृक्: bearing a terrible form
• विकट-रूप-धृक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकट (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + धृ (धातु) → धृक् (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यः विकटं रूपं धारयति सः); ‘धृक्’ = क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त (bearer)

• नाना-लीलाः: various plays/sports
• नाना-लीलाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नानाविधाः लीलाः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• कृतवान्: (he) did/has done
• कृतवान्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृतवत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृत् (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अस्ति’ अध्याहृतम्

• चेतयामि: I remember/I call to mind
• चेतयामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चेत्/चित् (धातु) (to perceive/remember)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• ताम्: that (her/that act)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it recalls Śiva arriving at a doorway in a fearsome guise to enact līlā that first veils (tirodhāna) and then bestows grace (anugraha).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights smaraṇa (devotional remembrance): recalling Śiva’s līlā—even when He appears in an awe-inspiring form—purifies fear into reverence and opens the heart to His anugraha (grace), a key Shaiva path toward liberation.

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

Śiva’s “vikaṭa-rūpa” points to Saguna worship—God approached through form and action. Remembering His līlās supports steady devotion that culminates in deeper contemplation of the Liṅga as the ever-present sign of Pati (Śiva) beyond changing appearances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily smaraṇa: mentally recite and contemplate Śiva’s deeds with the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) during japa; this verse especially suits quiet dhyāna on Śiva’s protective, testing, and grace-bestowing presence.