Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 67
स्त्रियापि चैव तत्कार्यं परोपकरणान्वितम् । एवं प्रवर्तिता तेन गिरिणा महिषी तदा । दधार जठरे कन्यां मेना भाग्यवती तदा
striyāpi caiva tatkāryaṃ paropakaraṇānvitam | evaṃ pravartitā tena giriṇā mahiṣī tadā | dadhāra jaṭhare kanyāṃ menā bhāgyavatī tadā
Ce devoir même d’aider autrui doit être accompli, fût-ce par une femme. Ainsi, guidée et mise sur cette voie par la Montagne, Himavān, sa reine, la fortunée Menā, conçut alors une fille dans son sein.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa), in narration to the sages (contextual attribution within Māheśvara Khaṇḍa)
Scene: Himavān instructs Menā in paropakāra; the scene transitions to an auspicious moment of conception—Menā radiant, with subtle divine signs (lotus motifs, gentle light) indicating destiny in her womb.
FAQs
Dharma as compassionate service is universal—gender is no barrier to righteous, other-benefiting action.
The setting is Kedāra Khaṇḍa, associated with Kedārakṣetra and Himalayan sacred geography, while the verse narrates the divine birth context.
No explicit ritual is stated; the verse frames ethical conduct and introduces the divine conception narrative.