Shloka 7
उपमन्युकुमारस्य क्षीरार्थ-प्रार्थना तथा शिवप्रसाद-निबन्धनम् | Upamanyu’s Longing for Milk and the Doctrine of Shiva’s Grace
पीत्वा च कृत्रिमं दुग्धं मात्रा दत्तं स बालकः । नैतत्क्षीरमिति प्राह मातरं चारुदत्पुनः
pītvā ca kṛtrimaṃ dugdhaṃ mātrā dattaṃ sa bālakaḥ | naitatkṣīramiti prāha mātaraṃ cārudatpunaḥ
母から与えられた代用の乳を飲むと、その幼子は「これは本当の乳ではない」と母に告げ、また母の前で泣き出した。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the child’s rejection of the substitute intensifies the existential lack that will later be resolved only by Śiva’s grace.
Significance: Illustrates the inadequacy of substitutes for true fulfillment—an allegory for worldly upāyas failing before the need for divine anugraha.
FAQs
It highlights viveka (discernment): the soul should not be satisfied with substitutes, but seek the true nourishment of Shiva-bhakti and right knowledge that leads toward liberation.
Just as the child rejects “artificial milk,” the devotee is guided to reject superficial religiosity and approach Saguna Shiva with sincere devotion, using sacred forms (like the Linga) as authentic supports for inner realization.
A practical takeaway is to adopt steady japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namah Shivaya”) with purity and sincerity, avoiding mechanical practice done as a mere outer substitute for true devotion.