Shloka 42
देव्युवाच । वत्सान्दृष्ट्वा यथा गावो व्यग्रा धावन्ति सत्वरम् । तथैव भवतो दृष्ट्वा धावामि व्याकुला सती
devyuvāca | vatsāndṛṣṭvā yathā gāvo vyagrā dhāvanti satvaram | tathaiva bhavato dṛṣṭvā dhāvāmi vyākulā satī
The Goddess said: “As cows, on seeing their calves, run swiftly in eager agitation, so too, on seeing you, I—Sati—run toward you, distressed with longing.”
Parvati (as Sati)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It portrays bhakti as an irresistible inner movement of the jīva toward Pati (Shiva): the soul, overwhelmed by love, naturally rushes to the Lord, just as a cow runs to her calf—signifying intimate, living devotion rather than mere formality.
The verse emphasizes Saguna devotion—responding to Shiva’s presence with heartfelt longing. In Linga-worship, this becomes the same impulse expressed through darśana, abhiṣeka, and continuous remembrance, treating the Linga as Shiva’s accessible, grace-giving form.
Practice single-pointed remembrance (smaraṇa) of Shiva with the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” ideally alongside simple Linga-abhiṣeka; the takeaway is to cultivate yearning-filled attention, not mechanical recitation.