Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 90

मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach

to the Sage

Devanagari script

शिवत्वं न च जानासि निर्गुणस्य गुणस्स हि । विरूपस्स सुरूपो हि सर्वसेव्यस्सतां गतिः

Transliteration

śivatvaṃ na ca jānāsi nirguṇasya guṇassa hi | virūpassa surūpo hi sarvasevyassatāṃ gatiḥ

Translation

Nàng chưa thật hiểu cảnh giới “Śiva-tính”. Dẫu Ngài là nirguṇa (vượt ngoài mọi phẩm tính), Ngài vẫn là nền tảng của mọi phẩm tính. Dẫu trước mắt thế gian Ngài như vô tướng hay kỳ dị, tự thể Ngài vẫn là vẻ đẹp tối thượng. Ngài được muôn loài thờ phụng, là nơi nương tựa và cứu cánh của bậc hiền thiện.

Word by Word

• śivatvam: the state/nature of Śiva (auspiciousness)
• śivatvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivatva (प्रातिपदिक; -त्व तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• jānāsi: you know
• jānāsi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• nirguṇasya: of the attributeless (one)
• nirguṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirguṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (स/शिवस्य)

• guṇaḥ: a quality/attribute
• guṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• saḥ: he/that (it)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• virūpaḥ: formless/ugly (in appearance)
• virūpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: virūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (सः)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• surūpaḥ: beautiful in form
• surūpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु + रूपः = सुन्दररूपः)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• sarva-sevyaḥ: worthy of being served by all
• sarva-sevyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + sevya (कृदन्त; √sev (सेव् धातु) + यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्तः—यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: 'to be served'); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वैः सेव्यो यः)

• satām: of the good/virtuous
• satām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; 'सत्' = सज्जन/साधु

• gatiḥ: refuge/goal
• gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva transcends all limiting qualities (nirguṇa) yet is the source and support of every auspicious attribute, making Him the ultimate refuge (gati) sought by the righteous for liberation.

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

The verse reconciles nirguṇa and saguna: although Shiva is beyond form and qualities, devotees approach Him through worship (sevā) of accessible manifestations such as the Śiva-liṅga, which anchors devotion and leads toward realization of His transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as both beyond qualities and the giver of all auspiciousness while repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering simple worship to the liṅga with bhakti as a direct means toward moksha.