Upamanyu’s Tapas, Shiva’s Indra-Form Test, and the Bestowal of Kshiroda and Gaṇapatya
उपमन्युरिति ख्यातो मुनिश् च द्विजसत्तमाः कुमार इव तेजस्वी क्रीडमानो यदृच्छया
upamanyuriti khyāto muniś ca dvijasattamāḥ kumāra iva tejasvī krīḍamāno yadṛcchayā
كان مشهورًا باسم أوبامانيو—مونيًّا جليلًا بين خيرة ذوي الميلادين—متلألئًا كغلامٍ فتيّ، يجوب ويلهو على سجيّته وبمحض اختياره.
Suta Goswami
It introduces the sage Upamanyu, a key Shaiva rishi whose presence typically signals the transmission of Shiva-bhakti and Linga-centered observances through an authoritative lineage.
Indirectly, by portraying Upamanyu as tejasvī (radiant), it echoes Shaiva Siddhanta’s view that devotion to Pati (Shiva) awakens spiritual tejas in the pashu (soul), loosening pasha (bondage).
No explicit rite is stated in this verse; it functions as a narrative setup commonly preceding Shaiva instruction—often Pashupata-oriented discipline and Linga-puja teaching in the subsequent passages.