Shloka 18
मेनावरलाभवर्णनम् — Description of Menā’s Attainment of Boons
and the worship leading to Umā’s advent
मेनोवाच । देवि प्रत्यक्षतो रूपन्दृष्टन्तव मयाऽधुना । त्वामहं स्तोतुमिच्छामि प्रसन्ना भव कालिके
menovāca | devi pratyakṣato rūpandṛṣṭantava mayā'dhunā | tvāmahaṃ stotumicchāmi prasannā bhava kālike
Mena said: “O Goddess, I have now beheld Your form directly with my own eyes. I wish to praise You; be gracious and favorably disposed, O Kālikā.”
Menā
Tattva Level: pashu
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: liberating
FAQs
This verse highlights the Shaiva understanding that spiritual transformation begins with divine grace: after direct darśan of the Goddess, the devotee naturally turns to stotra (praise) and seeks prasannatā (the deity’s pleased, gracious state), which supports inner purification and right devotion.
Though addressed to the Goddess, the verse reflects Saguna worship central to the Shiva Purana: direct contemplation of a divine form (saguṇa) leads to devotion and praise. In Shaiva practice, this same pattern applies to worship of Śiva’s saguṇa manifestations—especially the Liṅga—where darśan, stotra, and seeking grace are foundational.
The immediate takeaway is stotra-pāṭha (recitation of hymns) after darśan, coupled with a prayer for prasāda (grace). Practically, one may perform respectful worship and recite Shiva–Shakti praises (and, where appropriate, japa such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with the intent of receiving divine favor and steadiness of mind.