Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 63
मेना-शिवदर्शन-प्रस्थानम् | Menā’s Quest to Behold Śiva
Departure for Śiva’s Darśana
त्वदीयं तद्वचः श्रुत्वा वाताहतलता इव । सा पपात द्रुतम्भूमौ मेना दुःखभरा सती
tvadīyaṃ tadvacaḥ śrutvā vātāhatalatā iva | sā papāta drutambhūmau menā duḥkhabharā satī
Nghe lời ngươi nói, Menā—người phụ nữ trinh chính, lòng chất đầy sầu khổ—liền ngã quỵ xuống đất thật nhanh, như dây leo bị cơn gió dữ quật ngã.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse portrays how worldly attachment and sudden, painful news can shake even a virtuous person; in Shaiva understanding, such shock becomes a turning point that redirects the heart from fragile worldly supports toward surrender to Pati (Shiva), the steady refuge beyond change.
Menā’s collapse highlights human helplessness before sorrow; Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-upāsanā) is presented in the Purana as a compassionate support for devotees, helping them stabilize the mind and convert grief into devotion and trust in Shiva’s auspicious will.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with steady breathing to regain inner balance; offering water to the Shiva-linga and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) are traditional Shaiva supports for composure and remembrance of Shiva during distress.