Shloka 50
ब्राह्मणीस्वर्गतिवर्णनम्
Brāhmaṇī-Svargati-Varṇana: Account of a Brāhmaṇa Woman’s Ascent to Heaven
ब्राह्मणश्च तदा पान्र्थौ दृष्ट्वाश्चर्यं विनिर्गतः । यत्र गौश्च गतस्तत्र तामनु ब्राह्मणो गतः
brāhmaṇaśca tadā pānrthau dṛṣṭvāścaryaṃ vinirgataḥ | yatra gauśca gatastatra tāmanu brāhmaṇo gataḥ
Lalu sang brāhmaṇa yang sedang menempuh jalan melihat peristiwa menakjubkan itu dan keluar menghampiri. Ke mana pun sapi itu pergi, ke sanalah brāhmaṇa itu mengikutinya.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara
Sthala Purana: A travelling brāhmaṇa witnesses a cow behaving wondrously and follows her; the episode functions as a narrative lead-in to the revelation of a Śiva-tīrtha on the Narmadā connected with Nandikeśvara and the sanctifying power of the place.
Significance: Following the ‘sign’ (nimitta) to a Śiva-tīrtha models the pilgrim’s movement from ordinary perception to sacred geography; the place is implied to remove heavy sins and to orient the soul toward Śiva’s grace.
FAQs
The verse highlights divine guidance (anugraha) operating through auspicious, sattvic signs: the brāhmaṇa’s reverent attention to the wondrous event and his following of the cow symbolize a seeker being led toward Shiva’s sacred presence and merit-bearing pilgrimage.
In Jyotirlinga narratives, ordinary events become pointers to Saguna Shiva’s manifest grace—often culminating in reaching a linga-site. The brāhmaṇa’s act of following indicates śraddhā and readiness for darśana of Shiva in a tangible, worshipable form (linga) revealed through sacred geography.
The takeaway is attentive, faith-filled pilgrimage (tīrtha-yātrā) with purity and restraint; one may accompany it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and a sattvic vow (vrata) until reaching the shrine indicated by divine signs.