Shloka 8
उपमन्युकुमारस्य क्षीरार्थ-प्रार्थना तथा शिवप्रसाद-निबन्धनम् | Upamanyu’s Longing for Milk and the Doctrine of Shiva’s Grace
श्रुत्वा सुतस्य रुदितं प्राह सा दुःखिता सुतम । संमार्ज्य नेत्रे पुत्रस्य कराभ्यां कमलाकृतिः
śrutvā sutasya ruditaṃ prāha sā duḥkhitā sutama | saṃmārjya netre putrasya karābhyāṃ kamalākṛtiḥ
息子の泣き声を聞くと、蓮華の眼をもつ母は胸を痛め、少年に語りかけた。そして両の手で、わが子の目をやさしくぬぐった。
Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It highlights karuṇā (compassion) and vātsalya (protective love) as dharmic qualities that soften suffering and prepare the heart for bhakti toward Pati (Shiva), the ultimate refuge beyond sorrow.
Though not explicitly mentioning the Liṅga, the mood of tender care reflects Saguna Shiva’s accessible grace—devotion begins in the purified heart, and such inner tenderness naturally turns toward Liṅga-upāsanā as a concrete focus for surrender.
A practical takeaway is to calm the mind first (śānti) and then take refuge in japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a simple Shaiva practice for transforming grief into devotion.