Shloka 48

मेनावरलाभवर्णनम् — Description of Menā’s Attainment of Boons

and the worship leading to Umā’s advent

Devanagari script

प्रवरं शतपुत्राणां महाबलपराक्रमम् । स्वोद्भवानां महीध्राणां पर्वतेन्द्रैकधिष्ठितम्

Transliteration

pravaraṃ śataputrāṇāṃ mahābalaparākramam | svodbhavānāṃ mahīdhrāṇāṃ parvatendraikadhiṣṭhitam

Translation

He was the foremost among the hundred sons—endowed with immense strength and valor—born of the mountain-line itself, and uniquely established as the single sovereign among the lords of mountains.

Word by Word

• प्रवरम्: excellent / foremost
• प्रवरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pravara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Eka-vacana (singular); used as qualifier of an implied noun (e.g., ‘पर्वतम्/महीध्रम्’)

• शतपुत्राणाम्: of (those) having a hundred sons / of the hundred sons
• शतपुत्राणाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound ‘शत-पुत्र’; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Bahu-vacana (plural)

• महाबलपराक्रमम्: of great strength and valor
• महाबलपराक्रमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bala + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Compound with coordinated qualities ‘बल’ and ‘पराक्रम’ under ‘महā-’; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Eka-vacana (singular); qualifying implied noun

• स्वोद्भवानाम्: self-born / sprung from themselves
• स्वोद्भवानाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva + udbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘स्व-उद्भव’ (self-born/of one’s own origin); Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Bahu-vacana (plural); qualifying ‘महीध्राणाम्’

• महीध्राणाम्: of the mountains
• महीध्राणाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīdhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Bahu-vacana (plural)

• पर्वतेन्द्रैकधिष्ठितम्: situated on the sole lord of mountains (Himālaya)
• पर्वतेन्द्रैकधिष्ठितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parvata + indra + eka + adhiṣṭhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) multi-member compound; ‘पर्वतेन्द्र-एक-अधिष्ठित’ = ‘situated on the one lord of mountains’; Neuter/Masculine Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Eka-vacana (singular); qualifying implied noun

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse is a genealogical-praise description of a mountain-king (Himālaya/Himācala) as foremost among the mountain lineage; it does not narrate a Jyotirliṅga manifestation or temple-origin episode.

Significance: Indirect: establishes Himālaya as the sacred setting for Pārvatī’s advent and Śiva–Śakti līlā; sanctifies the mountain as a fit adhikaraṇa (locus) for tapas and divine descent.

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Himalaya

FAQs

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

The verse elevates the “king of mountains” as a divinely appointed support of dharma, preparing the sacred setting for Pārvatī’s manifestation and her destined union with Śiva—showing how the cosmos arranges worthy foundations for the Lord’s līlā.

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

By glorifying the sacred geography and divine order that culminate in Śiva’s manifest (saguṇa) dealings, it supports pilgrimage-minded devotion: the Lord is worshiped in forms and places sanctified by his cosmic plan, even while remaining transcendent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tīrtha-bhāva (holy-place contemplation): meditate on Śiva’s presence in sanctified mountains and perform simple Śiva-pūjā with pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while cultivating steadiness like a mountain.