Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 94

मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach

to the Sage

Devanagari script

तद्रूपम्वर्णितं केन ज्ञायते केन वा पुनः । मया च ब्रह्मणा यस्य ह्यतो लब्धश्च नैव हि

Transliteration

tadrūpamvarṇitaṃ kena jñāyate kena vā punaḥ | mayā ca brahmaṇā yasya hyato labdhaśca naiva hi

Translation

那圣相谁能真实描绘？又有谁能彻底了知？即便我——梵天——也从未能圆满把握祂的真实本体。

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); determiner for ‘rūpam’

• रूपम्: form, nature
• रूपम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• वर्णितम्: described
• वर्णितम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: varṇita (प्रातिपदिक; from √varṇ)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त/कर्मणि कृदन्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• केन: by whom?
• केन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun (प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ज्ञायते: is known
• ज्ञायते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); passive sense ‘is known’

• केन: by whom?
• केन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun (प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar/punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘again/indeed’

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta-artha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic/causal particle (निपात)

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘therefore/from this’

• लब्धः: obtained, found
• लब्धः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labdha (प्रातिपदिक; from √labh)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle (निषेध)

• एव: at all/indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta-artha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva (Pati) ultimately transcends speech and mind; limited beings—even Brahma—cannot fully comprehend Him, so humility and devotion are essential on the path to liberation.

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

Since Shiva’s absolute reality is beyond description, the Linga and other Saguna forms serve as compassionate, graspable supports for worship—guiding the devotee toward the transcendent Nirguna truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Take refuge in steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Linga-dhyāna, cultivating humility—seeking realization through devotion rather than mere intellectual analysis.