Shloka 41
उपमन्युकुमारस्य क्षीरार्थ-प्रार्थना तथा शिवप्रसाद-निबन्धनम् | Upamanyu’s Longing for Milk and the Doctrine of Shiva’s Grace
स्मृत्वा स्वेष्टपदद्वन्द्वं स्वदेहं दग्धुमुद्यतः । आग्नेयीं धारणां बिभ्रदुपमन्युरवस्थितः
smṛtvā sveṣṭapadadvandvaṃ svadehaṃ dagdhumudyataḥ | āgneyīṃ dhāraṇāṃ bibhradupamanyuravasthitaḥ
Im Gedenken an das geliebte Paar Füße seines verehrten Herrn machte sich Upamanyu daran, den eigenen Leib zu verbrennen; standhaft verharrend nahm er die feurige Dhāraṇā (āgneyī) an.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights single-pointed bhakti to Shiva—remembering the Lord’s feet—combined with intense tapas and yogic steadiness, showing how devotion and disciplined concentration purify the pashu (bound soul) toward Shiva’s grace.
The verse centers on saguna-upasana through loving remembrance of Shiva’s sacred feet (a concrete devotional support), which in Shiva traditions complements Linga worship as an accessible focus for meditation and surrender.
It suggests yogic dhāraṇā—specifically āgneyī dhāraṇā (fire-element concentration)—supported by devotional smaraṇa (remembrance). Practically, one may combine mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady inner focus to kindle spiritual “fire” without self-harm.