Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach

to the Sage

Devanagari script

तन्माहात्म्यं परं दृष्ट्वा कन्यां दातुं त्वया मया । अंगीकृतं तदा देवि तत्प्रमाणं कुरु प्रिये

Transliteration

tanmāhātmyaṃ paraṃ dṛṣṭvā kanyāṃ dātuṃ tvayā mayā | aṃgīkṛtaṃ tadā devi tatpramāṇaṃ kuru priye

Translation

既已目睹那至上的伟大，噢女神，我便与你一同在当时允诺：当将此少女许配出嫁。噢爱者，如今请使此决定成为确证而具权威的誓定。

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun) used as determiner

• māhātmyam: greatness, glory
• māhātmyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) of māhātmyam

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having seen’

• kanyām: the maiden/daughter
• kanyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• dātum: to give
• dātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to give’

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-परसर्वनाम, तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-आत्मसर्वनाम, तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• aṅgīkṛtam: (it is) accepted
• aṅgīkṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: aṅgī√kṛ (धातु; aṅgī- उपसर्ग/उपपद)
• Form: कृत-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘accepted/agreed’

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• devi: O goddess
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (Vocative singular)

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, विशेषणरूपेण; समासपूर्वपद (determinative)

• pramāṇam: proof/confirmation of that
• pramāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘tat-pramāṇa’ = तस्य प्रमाणम् (genitive tatpuruṣa)

• kuru: do/make
• kuru: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• priye: O beloved
• priye: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyā/priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन एकवचन (Vocative); संबोधन-विशेषण/नाम

Speaker

Himavat (Himalaya), father of Pārvatī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umapati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Himavat

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that once Shiva’s supreme glory is truly recognized, dharmic action naturally follows—here, the parents’ consent—showing how right discernment (seeing mahima) culminates in committed resolve aligned with Pati, the Supreme Lord.

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

Though the verse speaks in a family-and-marriage context, it rests on acknowledging Shiva’s manifest greatness (saguṇa mahimā). In Shaiva tradition, such recognition is nurtured through Linga-worship, which trains the devotee to see Shiva’s lordship behind all auspicious outcomes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to turn insight into a firm vow (saṅkalpa): worship Shiva with the Panchakshara mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and, when making a sacred decision, seal it with prayer and commitment—optionally accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as Shaiva marks of resolve.