Shloka 3
मेनावरलाभवर्णनम् — Description of Menā’s Attainment of Boons
and the worship leading to Umā’s advent
ब्रह्मोवाच । विप्रवर्य सुतश्रेष्ठ शृणु तच्चरितं महत् । प्रणम्य शंकरं भक्त्या वच्मि भक्तिविवर्द्धनम्
brahmovāca | vipravarya sutaśreṣṭha śṛṇu taccaritaṃ mahat | praṇamya śaṃkaraṃ bhaktyā vacmi bhaktivivarddhanam
Phạm Thiên (Brahmā) nói: “Hỡi bậc tối thượng trong hàng Bà-la-môn, hỡi người con ưu tú, hãy lắng nghe thánh truyện vĩ đại ấy. Sau khi đảnh lễ Śaṅkara bằng lòng sùng kính, ta sẽ kể điều làm tăng trưởng bhakti.”
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Type: stotra
FAQs
It establishes śravaṇa (devotional listening) and praṇāma (reverent bowing) to Śiva as the gateway to receiving a sacred narrative that nourishes and strengthens bhakti, leading the seeker toward Śiva’s grace.
By naming Śaṅkara and emphasizing bowing with devotion before teaching, the verse highlights Saguna-oriented worship—approaching Śiva as the benevolent Lord who is personally accessible through reverence, praise, and attentive listening to His līlā and teachings (often centered on Liṅga-devotion in the Purāṇa’s devotional frame).
Offer praṇāma to Śiva and practice śravaṇa—listen to Śiva-kathā with focused mind and devotion; as a simple complement, one may mentally repeat the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while listening to deepen bhakti.