Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

मेनावरलाभवर्णनम् — Description of Menā’s Attainment of Boons

and the worship leading to Umā’s advent

Devanagari script

मेनोवाच । महामायां जगद्धात्रीं चण्डिकां लोकधारिणीम् । प्रणमामि महादेवीं सर्वकामार्थदायिनीम्

Transliteration

menovāca | mahāmāyāṃ jagaddhātrīṃ caṇḍikāṃ lokadhāriṇīm | praṇamāmi mahādevīṃ sarvakāmārthadāyinīm

Translation

梅那说道：我顶礼大女神——她是大幻力（Mahāmāyā），是承载宇宙的世界之母，是护持诸界的威猛旃提迦（Caṇḍikā）；她赐予一切所愿之目标与圆满。

Word by Word

• मेनाः: Menā
• मेनाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेनā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said/spoke
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• महामायाम्: the Great Māyā
• महामायाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामाया = महा + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• जगद्धात्रीम्: the sustainer of the world
• जगद्धात्रीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगद्धात्री = जगत् + धात्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• चण्डिकाम्: Caṇḍikā (the fierce goddess)
• चण्डिकाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• लोकधारिणीम्: the bearer/supporter of the worlds
• लोकधारिणीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकधारिणी = लोक + धारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रणमामि: I bow (to)
• प्रणमामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• महादेवीम्: the Great Goddess
• महादेवीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेवी = महा + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्वकामार्थदायिनीम्: the giver of all desired aims/objects
• सर्वकामार्थदायिनीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वकामार्थदायिनी = सर्व + काम + अर्थ + दायिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Mena (Mother of Parvati)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: महामायां जगद्धात्रीं चण्डिकां लोकधारिणीम् । प्रणमामि महादेवीं सर्वकामार्थदायिनीम्

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

This verse is a śakti-stuti within the Shaiva frame: Mena recognizes the Goddess as the cosmic power (Mahāmāyā) who sustains the worlds and grants fruits, showing that worldly aims and spiritual uplift arise through divine grace when approached with reverent bhakti.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By praising Mahādevī as world-sustainer and giver of boons, the text affirms Saguna worship of Shiva-Shakti: devotion to the manifest divine (including Linga worship) is a valid means to receive blessings and progress toward higher realization under Shiva’s lordship (Pati) and Shakti’s power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practice implied is praṇāma and stuti (reverent salutation and hymn). As a Shaiva takeaway, one may pair such devotion with japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and simple daily worship honoring Shiva together with Shakti.