Shloka 13
मेना-हिमालयसंवादः
Menā’s Counsel to Himālaya; Response to Slander of Śiva
ऋषय ऊचुः । सर्वोत्कृष्टं महाराज सार्वभौम दिवौकसाम् । स्वभाग्यं वर्ण्यतेऽस्माभिः किं पुनस्सकलोत्तमम्
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | sarvotkṛṣṭaṃ mahārāja sārvabhauma divaukasām | svabhāgyaṃ varṇyate'smābhiḥ kiṃ punassakalottamam
ഋഷിമാർ പറഞ്ഞു— ഹേ മഹാരാജാ! ദേവലോകത്തിന്റെ സർവ്വഭൗമനേ! ഞങ്ങൾ നമ്മുടെ പരമഭാഗ്യത്തെയേ സರ್ವോത്തമമെന്ന് വർണ്ണിക്കുന്നു; എന്നാൽ സകലത്തിലും ഉത്തമമായതിനെ കുറിച്ച് പറയുന്നത് എത്രയധികം മഹത്തായിരിക്കും!
The sages (ṛṣis)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Significance: Declaring Śiva as sārvabhauma (universal sovereign) supports the pilgrim’s conviction that any authentic Śiva-kṣetra grants access to the supreme Lord beyond sectarian limits.
Type: stotra
FAQs
It expresses the Shaiva devotional principle that even the ability to praise and hear sacred truth is itself a rare grace (anugraha), and that the Supreme—ultimately Shiva as Pati, the highest reality—is beyond ordinary comparison.
The verse sets the tone of exalted praise (stuti) that culminates in recognizing the Supreme Lord. In Shaiva practice, such praise naturally turns the mind toward Saguna Shiva—often worshiped as the Linga—through whom the seeker is led toward the highest truth.
A practical takeaway is stuti and śravaṇa: regularly recite Shiva-stotras or the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with gratitude, treating the opportunity to worship and hear Shiva-kathā as sacred fortune.