Shloka 39
उपमन्युकुमारस्य क्षीरार्थ-प्रार्थना तथा शिवप्रसाद-निबन्धनम् | Upamanyu’s Longing for Milk and the Doctrine of Shiva’s Grace
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एवमुक्त्वोपमन्युस्तं मर्तुं व्यवसितः स्वयम् । क्षीरे वाच्छामपि त्यक्त्वा निहन्तुं शक्रमुद्यतः
nandīśvara uvāca | evamuktvopamanyustaṃ martuṃ vyavasitaḥ svayam | kṣīre vācchāmapi tyaktvā nihantuṃ śakramudyataḥ
Nandīśvara said: Having spoken thus, Upamanyu himself resolved to die; abandoning even his desire for milk, he rose up, intent on slaying Śakra (Indra).
Nandishvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
It highlights the intense inner turning of a devotee: Upamanyu’s renunciation of even a basic craving (milk) shows vairāgya, but his rising anger toward Indra also warns that desire and wrath must both be purified into steadfast devotion to Śiva for liberation.
The narrative frames devotion as moving from dependence on worldly supports to reliance on Śiva as the accessible Saguna Lord; Linga-worship symbolizes concentrating the mind on Śiva alone, replacing cravings and reactive hostility with disciplined bhakti.
Practice restraint (niyama) and redirect emotion into japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—along with simple Śiva-upāsanā such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and mindful offerings, so renunciation does not turn into destructive anger.