Shloka 11
शिशुकस्य शिवशास्त्रप्राप्तिः (Śiśuka’s Attainment of Śaiva Teaching and Grace)
कदाचित्क्षीरमत्यल्पं पीतवान्मातुलाश्रमे । ईर्षयया मातुलसुतं संतृप्तक्षीरमुत्तमम्
kadācitkṣīramatyalpaṃ pītavānmātulāśrame | īrṣayayā mātulasutaṃ saṃtṛptakṣīramuttamam
Once, while staying in his maternal uncle’s hermitage, he drank only a very little milk. But out of jealousy he looked upon his uncle’s son, who was fully satisfied with excellent milk.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It highlights īrṣyā (jealousy) as an inner bondage that clouds discernment and deepens karmic limitation; Shaiva Siddhanta treats such passions as pasha-like constraints to be purified through devotion, discipline, and right understanding.
Though not directly mentioning the Liṅga, the verse sets the ethical ground for Saguna Shiva worship: approaching Shiva with a purified heart. Envy obstructs bhakti; Liṅga-upāsanā is traditionally paired with inner cleansing—humility, contentment, and non-resentment.
A practical takeaway is to counter jealousy with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and daily self-examination (svādhyāya); if following Shiva Purana norms, pair it with calm morning worship, offering water/milk to the Liṅga with a vow of contentment.