Shloka 49
मेना-शिवदर्शन-प्रस्थानम् | Menā’s Quest to Behold Śiva
Departure for Śiva’s Darśana
ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा हर्षिता मेना तं ददर्श मुदा प्रभुम् । अद्भुताकृतिमीशानमद्भुतानुगमद्भुतम्
brahmovāca | ityuktvā harṣitā menā taṃ dadarśa mudā prabhum | adbhutākṛtimīśānamadbhutānugamadbhutam
Brahmā said: Having spoken thus, Menā—filled with joy—beheld with delight that Lord, Īśāna, of wondrous form, wondrous in His retinue, altogether marvellous.
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Ishana
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s grace-filled self-revelation (darśana) as Īśāna: when the heart becomes joyful and receptive, the Lord appears as the wondrous Pati, inspiring bhakti and loosening the bonds (pāśa) of fear and limitation.
The verse emphasizes Saguna darśana—Śiva seen in a perceivable divine form with a celestial retinue. In Śaiva practice, the Liṅga similarly serves as a compassionate, worshipful focus through which Nirguna reality is approached via Saguna worship.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate joyful devotion through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple pūjā (optionally with bhasma/Tripuṇḍra), praying for inner purity so that Śiva’s presence becomes experientially ‘seen’ in meditation.