Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा महादेवः कराभ्यामुपगृह्य तम् आघ्राय मूर्धनि विभुर् ददौ देव्यास्तदा भवः

Transliteration

evamuktvā mahādevaḥ karābhyāmupagṛhya tam āghrāya mūrdhani vibhur dadau devyāstadā bhavaḥ

Translation

ครั้นตรัสดังนี้แล้ว มหาเทวะ—ภวะผู้แผ่ซ่านทั่ว—ทรงประคองเขาด้วยสองพระหัตถ์ สูดดมกลิ่นที่เศียรอย่างอ่อนโยน แล้วทรงวางเขาไว้บนกระหม่อมของพระเทวี

Word by Word

• evam: thus

• uktvā: having spoken

• mahādevaḥ: Mahādeva (Great God, Shiva)

• karābhyām: with (both) hands

• upagṛhya: having taken/held close

• tam: him/that one

• āghrāya: having smelled (affectionately, inhaled the fragrance)

• mūrdhani: on the head/crown

• vibhuḥ: the all-pervading, sovereign Lord

• dadau: gave/placed

• devyāḥ: of/unto the Goddess (Devi)

• tadā: then

• bhavaḥ: Bhava (Shiva).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (primary narrator; describing Shiva’s act within the embedded narrative)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati (Devi)

FAQs

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

It portrays Shiva’s consecrating gesture—lifting and placing upon Devi’s crown—as a model of anugraha (grace) and sanctification, echoing how the Linga is treated as the living presence of Pati (Shiva) in worship.

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

Shiva is named Vibhu and Bhava—sovereign and all-pervading—showing Shiva-tattva as both transcendent authority and intimate compassion, capable of blessing and elevating beings through direct, personal grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The act resembles mūrdhā-abhisheka/śiras-sparśa symbolism—bestowal of blessing at the crown—pointing to Shaiva diksha-like grace where Pati uplifts the pashu toward liberation by loosening pasha (bondage).