Shloka 23

Upamanyu’s Tapas, Shiva’s Indra-Form Test, and the Bestowal of Kshiroda and Gaṇapatya

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा देवं प्रणम्यैवं प्रोवाचेदं कृताञ्जलिः भगवन् ब्राह्मणः कश्चिद् उपमन्युरितिश्रुतः

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā devaṃ praṇamyaivaṃ provācedaṃ kṛtāñjaliḥ bhagavan brāhmaṇaḥ kaścid upamanyuritiśrutaḥ

Translation

ദേവനെ ദർശിച്ച് അദ്ദേഹം നമസ്കരിച്ചു, കൃതാഞ്ജലിയായി പറഞ്ഞു— “ഭഗവൻ! ഉപമന്യു എന്നൊരു ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ ശ്രുതി-പരമ്പരയിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധനാണെന്ന് കേട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു.”

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen

• देवं: the Deva (the Lord)

• प्रणम्य: having bowed/prostrated

• एवम्: thus

• प्रोवाच: spoke

• इदम्: this

• कृताञ्जलिः: with hands folded (in añjali)

• भगवन्: O Blessed Lord

• ब्राह्मणः: a brāhmaṇa

• कश्चित्: a certain

• उपमन्युः: Upamanyu (name)

• इति: thus

• श्रुतः: heard of/renowned (as per tradition)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating an internal dialogue: an unnamed devotee/approacher addressing the Deva, i.e., Shiva)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Upamanyu

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It foregrounds the Shaiva posture of approach—darśana, pranāma, and añjali—showing that Linga-oriented devotion begins with surrender of the pashu (individual soul) before Pati (Shiva).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is indicated as “Deva” and “Bhagavan,” the supreme Lord worthy of reverent salutation—implying Pati-tattva, the sovereign consciousness who receives the devotee’s submission and guides the soul beyond pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pranāma with kṛtāñjali (añjali-mudrā) is highlighted—an essential preliminary of Shaiva pūjā and a bhakti-infused discipline that aligns the practitioner for higher Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā.