Shloka 4

Upamanyu’s Tapas, Shiva’s Indra-Form Test, and the Bestowal of Kshiroda and Gaṇapatya

Devanagari script

कदाचित् क्षीरम् अल्पं च पीतवान् मातुलाश्रमे ईर्ष्यया मातुलसुतो ह्य् अपिबत् क्षीरम् उत्तमम्

Transliteration

kadācit kṣīram alpaṃ ca pītavān mātulāśrame īrṣyayā mātulasuto hy apibat kṣīram uttamam

Translation

Einst, als er im Āśrama seines Onkels mütterlicherseits weilte, trank er nur wenig Milch; doch der Sohn des Onkels, von Neid getrieben, trank die beste Milch aus. So wendet sich der paśu-Geist, durch das pāśa der Eifersucht gebunden, von sāttviger Nahrung ab und fällt in gieriges Ergreifen.

Word by Word

• कदाचित्: once

• क्षीरम्: milk

• अल्पम्: a little

• च: and

• पीतवान्: drank (he drank)

• मातुलाश्रमे: in the maternal uncle’s hermitage/āśrama

• ईर्ष्यया: out of envy/jealousy

• मातुलसुतः: the maternal uncle’s son/cousin

• हि: indeed

• अपिबत्: drank (he drank up)

• क्षीरम्: milk

• उत्तमम्: the best/excellent

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames inner purification as the foundation of liṅga-pūjā: envy (īrṣyā) is a pāśa that makes the mind grasping, so devotion must be accompanied by restraint and sāttvika conduct.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By contrast: Shiva as Pati is the purifier and witness, while envy shows the pashu’s bondage. The verse implies that turning toward Shiva-tattva requires abandoning possessiveness and jealousy.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A practical Pāśupata takeaway: cultivate vairāgya and self-control (indriya-nigraha), replacing envy with contentment—so offerings and daily discipline become inwardly truthful, not merely external.