Shloka 48
किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि को मे दुःखं व्यपोहति । रुदित्वेति तदा गां च ताडयित्वा व्यमोचयत्
kiṃ karomi kva gacchāmi ko me duḥkhaṃ vyapohati | ruditveti tadā gāṃ ca tāḍayitvā vyamocayat
“What shall I do? Where shall I go? Who will remove my sorrow?”—weeping thus, he then struck the cow and drove her away.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya within the Kotirudra Samhita’s Jyotirlinga-oriented narration)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: The existential cry (‘Who removes my sorrow?’) is a classic prelude to Śiva’s saving grace in Purāṇic storytelling; while no Jyotirliṅga is named here, the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā often uses such moments to pivot toward a liṅga/tīrtha revelation.
Significance: Teaches that mere reactive violence (striking the cow) does not remove duḥkha; true śoka-nivṛtti comes through turning to Pati (Śiva) and dharmic expiation.
FAQs
The verse highlights the helplessness of a grief-stricken mind and shows how, without dharma and devotion to Pati (Shiva), a person may react through harmful action; Shaiva teaching redirects such sorrow toward repentance and worship that purifies karma.
In the Kotirudra context (Jyotirlinga-focused), human suffering and wrongdoing become the narrative trigger for turning toward Saguna Shiva as the compassionate Lord who removes duḥkha when approached through sincere bhakti, restraint, and corrective action.
A practical takeaway is to transform distress into japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and perform prayaschitta with non-violence and humility; if worship is undertaken, it may be supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and steady meditation on Shiva’s grace.