Shloka 72
Śrāddha-Kalpa: Pitṛ-Pūjā and Tithi-Phala (श्राद्धकल्पः पितृपूजा च तिथिफलम्)
इत्युक्त्वा चोर्ध्वमनयद् रेतो वृषभवाहन: । ऊर्ध्वरेता: समभवत् तत: प्रभूति चापि सः,“देवताओंसे ऐसा कहकर वृषभवाहन भगवान् शंकरने अपने “रेतस' अर्थात् वीर्यको ऊपर चढ़ा लिया। तभीसे वे “ऊर्ध्वरेता' नामसे विख्यात हुए
ity uktvā cordhvam anayad reto vṛṣabhavāhanaḥ | ūrdhvaretāḥ samabhavat tataḥ prabhūti cāpi saḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: Setelah berkata demikian kepada para dewa, Tuhan yang berpanji lembu (Śaṅkara) mengangkat tenaga benihnya ke atas. Sejak saat itu baginda termasyhur sebagai Ūrdhvaretā—yang menahan dan menyublimkan benih hayat—tanda penguasaan nafsu serta penukaran daya menjadi kekuatan tapa.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined mastery over sensual impulse: divine power is shown not as indulgence but as restraint and sublimation—transforming generative force into tapas (spiritual heat/ascetic potency), a model of ethical self-governance.
After addressing the gods, Śiva (the bull-rider) draws his retas upward, becoming known as Ūrdhvaretā. The narration explains the origin and significance of this epithet, emphasizing his ascetic control.