Shloka 12
मेना-शिवदर्शन-प्रस्थानम् | Menā’s Quest to Behold Śiva
Departure for Śiva’s Darśana
एवं श्रुत्वा तदा मेना विचारे तत्पराऽभवत् । इतश्चाभ्यधिको यो वै स च कीदृग्भविष्यति
evaṃ śrutvā tadā menā vicāre tatparā'bhavat | itaścābhyadhiko yo vai sa ca kīdṛgbhaviṣyati
Hearing this, Menā became wholly intent on reflection. “If there is indeed someone even greater than him,” she thought, “what kind of being will that one be?”
Suta Goswami (narrating the Parvati-Khanda account, describing Menā’s reaction)
Tattva Level: pashu
Role: teaching
FAQs
It shows the movement from ordinary social judgment to deeper discernment: Menā’s mind turns toward inquiry about true greatness, preparing the narrative ground for recognizing Shiva’s unsurpassed nature as Pati (the Supreme Lord).
Menā’s question—“who could be greater?”—echoes the Purana’s intent: the Saguna form of Shiva (worshiped as Linga and as the auspicious Lord) is not merely a worldly ascetic but the manifest focus through which devotees approach the transcendent, incomparable reality.
The practical takeaway is vicāra (reflective contemplation) joined to bhakti—supportable through japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” which steadies the mind toward recognizing Shiva’s supreme auspiciousness.