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
เหล่าฤๅษีกล่าวว่า “ข้าแต่มหาราช ผู้เป็นจอมเหนือเทพทั้งปวง เรากำลังพรรณนาความเป็นสิริมงคลอันยิ่งของเราเองว่าเลิศที่สุด; แล้วสิ่งซึ่งเลิศเหนือสรรพสิ่งนั้น จะยิ่งควรกล่าวถึงเพียงใด!”
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.