Shloka 17

मेनावरलाभवर्णनम् — Description of Menā’s Attainment of Boons

and the worship leading to Umā’s advent

Devanagari script

ततस्सा मेनका देवीं प्रत्यक्षां कालिकान्तदा । दृष्ट्वा च प्रणनामाथ वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

tatassā menakā devīṃ pratyakṣāṃ kālikāntadā | dṛṣṭvā ca praṇanāmātha vacanaṃ cedamabravīt

Translation

Then Menakā, beholding the Goddess manifest before her—radiant with a dark, Kālikā-like splendor—bowed down in reverence and spoke these words.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): ‘then/thereafter’

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मेनका: Menakā
• मेनका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेनका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन

• प्रत्यक्षाम्: directly present
• प्रत्यक्षाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रत्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; ‘visible/present before (one’s eyes)’

• कालिका-अन्तदा: the ender of Kālika (epithet)
• कालिका-अन्तदा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कालिका (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; ‘कालिकायाः अन्तं ददाति’—ender of Kālī(ka)/destroyer of Kālika (epithet)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘having seen’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• प्रणनाम: bowed down
• प्रणनाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु) → प्रणनाम (तिङन्त)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘he/she bowed’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• वचनम्: words/speech
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु) → अब्रवीत् (तिङन्त)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘said/spoke’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Episode in the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa: Menakā beholds the Goddess manifest (pratyakṣa). This is a theophany of Devī rather than a Jyotirliṅga origin account.

Significance: Models darśana as grace: the bound soul’s family-line (Menakā as mother) receives direct vision, inspiring śaraṇāgati (reverent surrender).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Menakā
• Devī (Pārvatī/Kālikā aspect)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights darśana (direct vision of the Divine) and praṇāma (humble surrender). In a Shaiva Siddhānta lens, such reverence purifies the soul (paśu) and prepares it to receive grace through the manifest (saguṇa) presence of the Goddess.

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

It emphasizes saguṇa upāsanā—God and Goddess becoming directly perceivable to devotees. Just as the Liṅga is a tangible focus for worship of Śiva, the Goddess appearing “pratyakṣa” affirms that the transcendent is approached through sacred, worshipful forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate takeaway is praṇāma with devotional speech (stuti/prārthanā). Practically, one may begin worship with respectful prostration and a short mantra—such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—before offering prayers to Śiva-Śakti.