Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 50
मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach
to the Sage
निमज्जय दयां त्यक्त्वा ततोऽद्रीश सुखी भव । यदि दास्यसि पुत्री त्वं रुद्राय विकटात्मने । तर्हि त्यक्ष्याम्यहं स्वामिन्निश्चयेन कलेवरम्
nimajjaya dayāṃ tyaktvā tato'drīśa sukhī bhava | yadi dāsyasi putrī tvaṃ rudrāya vikaṭātmane | tarhi tyakṣyāmyahaṃ svāminniścayena kalevaram
“舍弃怜悯，将我沉入苦难之后，噢山之主，你便自得其乐吧。若你把女儿许给性相可怖的鲁陀罗，那么，噢夫君，我必定舍此身而去。”
Menā (wife of Himālaya, mother of Pārvatī)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
It shows the clash between worldly fear and spiritual truth: Rudra may appear “fearsome” to ordinary perception, yet He is the supreme auspicious Lord (Pati). The verse highlights how attachment to social appearance can resist divine destiny, while the Shaiva view sees Rudra as the liberator.
Menā reacts to Rudra’s outward form and reputation (saguṇa appearance as “vikaṭa”), illustrating how devotees and families may judge by externals. The Purāṇa’s broader teaching is to recognize Śiva’s auspicious reality—worshipped as Liṅga (beyond form) and also as the personal Lord (saguṇa) guiding dharma.
The practical takeaway is steadiness in Śiva-bhakti despite social fear: contemplate Rudra as both fearsome to ego and gracious to the devotee, and anchor the mind in japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to see beyond mere appearances.