Shloka 21
मेना-शिवदर्शन-प्रस्थानम् | Menā’s Quest to Behold Śiva
Departure for Śiva’s Darśana
तावद्वायुस्समायातस्ततोऽपि द्विगुणप्रभः । तं दृष्ट्वा प्राह सा मेना रुद्रोयमिति हर्षिता
tāvadvāyussamāyātastato'pi dviguṇaprabhaḥ | taṃ dṛṣṭvā prāha sā menā rudroyamiti harṣitā
ಅಷ್ಟರಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಯು ದೇವರು ಬಂದನು; ಅವನ ಪ್ರಭೆ ಹಿಂದಿನದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ದ್ವಿಗುಣವಾಗಿ ಹೊಳೆಯಿತು. ಅವನನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ಹರ್ಷಿತಳಾದ ಮೇನಾ ಹೇಳಿದಳು—“ಇವನೇ ರುದ್ರನು.”
Menā
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse highlights a Shaiva theme: Rudra’s presence is recognized not merely by external identity but by unmistakable divine tejas (radiance). Menā’s joy reflects the auspiciousness of encountering the Lord’s manifest (saguṇa) revelation within the unfolding of destiny around Pārvatī.
Menā’s recognition—“This is Rudra”—illustrates saguṇa-bhakti: perceiving Śiva through tangible marks such as splendour and divine presence. In Linga worship, devotees similarly approach Śiva through a manifest support (liṅga) while understanding Him as the supreme Pati beyond all forms.
A practical takeaway is tejas-anusandhāna in japa and pūjā: steady attention to Śiva while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating inner clarity so the devotee can ‘recognize’ the Lord’s grace through signs like peace, steadiness, and devotion.