Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36

मेनावरलाभवर्णनम् — Description of Menā’s Attainment of Boons

and the worship leading to Umā’s advent

Devanagari script

सुता भव मम शिवे देवकार्यार्थमेव हि । रुद्रपत्नी भव तथा लीलां कुरु भवाम्बिके

Transliteration

sutā bhava mama śive devakāryārthameva hi | rudrapatnī bhava tathā līlāṃ kuru bhavāmbike

Translation

“噢吉祥天女Śivā，成为我的女儿——确然只为成就诸天之所需；继而成为鲁陀罗（Rudra）之配偶。噢婆婆母Bhavāmbikā，显现此神圣戏游（līlā）。”

Word by Word

• sutā: a daughter
• sutā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sutā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st case), एकवचन (Singular); संबोधनार्थे विधेय-नाम (predicative nominative)

• bhava: be
• bhava: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• mama: of me / my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th case), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• śive: O Śivā
• śive: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• deva-kārya-artham: for the purpose of the gods’ work
• deva-kārya-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + kārya (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd case), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समासः (determinative): देवकृतं/देवानां कार्यं तस्य अर्थः (for the purpose of the gods’ task)

• eva: indeed / only
• eva: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — एवकारः (emphasis)

• hi: indeed / for
• hi: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (for emphasis/indeed)

• rudra-patnī: Rudra’s wife
• rudra-patnī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक) + patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st case), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive tatpurusha): रुद्रस्य पत्नी

• bhava: be
• bhava: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• tathā: thus / likewise
• tathā: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb) — प्रकारवाचक (manner)

• līlām: play / divine sport
• līlām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd case), एकवचन (Singular)

• kuru: do / perform
• kuru: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• bhava-ambike: O Bhavāmbikā
• bhava-ambike: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक) + ambikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: भवस्य अम्बिका (Mother/consort of Bhava=Śiva)

Speaker

Brahmā

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Rudra
• Brahma
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse frames Pārvatī’s birth and marriage to Rudra as līlā—divine, purposeful manifestation—showing how Śiva’s grace operates through Śakti in the world to restore dharma and guide beings toward liberation.

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

By emphasizing Rudra’s consort and divine play, it supports Saguna upāsanā: devotees approach Śiva with form and attributes (often as Liṅga with Śakti), recognizing that the transcendent Pati is accessible through compassionate manifestation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to worship Śiva together with Śakti—reciting the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with devotion—contemplating the union of Pati (Śiva) and Śakti as the inner means for steadiness, purity, and grace.