Shloka 26
मेनावरलाभवर्णनम् — Description of Menā’s Attainment of Boons
and the worship leading to Umā’s advent
योनिर्धरित्री जगतां त्वमेव त्वमेव नित्या प्रकृतिः परस्तात् । यथा वशं क्रियते ब्रह्मरूपं सा त्वं नित्या मे प्रसीदाद्य मातः
yonirdharitrī jagatāṃ tvameva tvameva nityā prakṛtiḥ parastāt | yathā vaśaṃ kriyate brahmarūpaṃ sā tvaṃ nityā me prasīdādya mātaḥ
You alone are the womb and the sustaining earth of all worlds; you alone are the eternal Prakṛti, transcendent beyond all. By you even the principle called Brahman is brought under governance and made manifest in form. O eternal Mother, be gracious to me today.
Lord Shiva (addressing Devī Pārvatī as the Supreme Mother and Prakṛti)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Umā
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse affirms Devī as the eternal cosmic power (Prakṛti/Śakti) who births and sustains the worlds and whose grace governs manifestation; it frames liberation as ultimately dependent on divine compassion (prasāda) rather than mere intellectual grasp of Brahman.
In Shiva Purana devotion, Saguna worship is complete when Shiva is adored together with Śakti: the Linga signifies Shiva as Pati, while this verse highlights Śakti as the power by which even the highest principle becomes manifest—encouraging integrated Shiva-Śakti worship.
The core practice implied is bhakti and surrender seeking prasāda: worship Shiva with the awareness of Devī as the sustaining Mother, recite the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and conclude prayer with a direct request for grace (prasīda).