Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

हिमालयस्य निर्णयः — शिवाय पार्वत्याः प्रदाने

Himālaya’s Resolution to Give Pārvatī to Śiva

Devanagari script

अथ सा मेनका शैलपत्नी बुद्ध्वा प्रसन्नधीः । मुनीनरुन्धतीं शैलं भोजयित्वा बुभोज च

Transliteration

atha sā menakā śailapatnī buddhvā prasannadhīḥ | munīnarundhatīṃ śailaṃ bhojayitvā bubhoja ca

Translation

随后，雪山之妻梅娜迦明了其事，心神安悦。她先供养诸牟尼，并与阿伦达蒂及雪山（Śaila，喜马拉雅）同受款待；其后她才自食。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मेनका: Menakā
• मेनका: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेनका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिवाचक-नाम

• शैल-पत्नी: the mountain’s wife (wife of Himālaya)
• शैल-पत्नी: सम्बोधन/विशेष्य (apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—शैलस्य पत्नी (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• बुद्ध्वा: having understood
• बुद्ध्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (पूर्वकर्म/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having understood)

• प्रसन्न-धीः: with a pleased mind
• प्रसन्न-धीः: विशेषण (adjectival to मेनका)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—प्रसन्ना धीः यस्याः सा (one whose mind is pleased)

• मुनीन्: sages
• मुनीन्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• अरुन्धतीम्: Arundhatī
• अरुन्धतीम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरुन्धती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिवाचक-नाम

• शैलम्: the mountain (Himālaya)
• शैलम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भोजयित्वा: having fed
• भोजयित्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोग (causative) + क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive); ‘having fed/caused to eat’

• बुभोज: ate; partook
• बुभोज: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Menakā
• Himālaya (Śaila)
• Arundhatī
• Sages (Munis)

FAQs

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

It highlights atithi-sevā—honouring guests and sages—as a foundational dharma that purifies the mind (prasanna-dhī) and prepares a household for higher Shaiva devotion and auspicious outcomes.

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

Though the verse describes hospitality, in Shaiva practice such service to devotees and sages is treated as service to Saguna Shiva’s presence in the holy and the virtuous, supporting the merit that culminates in Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin worship with respectful service—offering food and water, maintaining purity and calmness—then proceed to Shiva-pūjā (e.g., japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), reflecting the same spirit of reverent offering.