O best of the twice-born, listen to the story of sage Upamanyu, who shone with youthful radiance and moved about freely, delighting in the simple joys of childhood. Once, while staying in his uncle’s hermitage, Upamanyu drank a little milk. But out of jealousy, his cousin consumed the finest portion, leaving Upamanyu unsatisfied. Having tasted the milk and desiring more, he approached his mother and pleaded, “Mother, O greatly fortunate one, O ascetic, please give me some milk. Cow’s milk is very sweet, not at all hot; I bow to you.” Cherished by her son’s affection, his mother embraced him with love. Yet, she was deeply troubled, her heart aching with the pangs of poverty. Again and again, as she recalled her own helplessness, Upamanyu, radiant though he was, continued to weep and cry out, “Give, give,” yearning for the milk he had tasted. Moved by his distress, his mother gathered seeds she had gleaned, ground them, and mixed the flour with water. Speaking gently, she called, “Come here, my son.” With soothing words, she embraced her sorrowful child and offered him this artificial milk. Upamanyu drank the concoction, but soon sensed the difference. Troubled, he said to his mother, “This is not milk.” Seeing her son’s disappointment, his mother sorrowfully caressed him, smelling his head and gently wiping his lotus-like eyes with her hands. She explained, “There are rivers filled with jewels in heaven and the netherworlds, but only those blessed with fortune and devotion to Shiva can see them. Kingdoms, heaven, liberation, and even food produced from milk are not attained by those whom Shiva does not favor. All is obtained by Shiva’s grace, not by the favor of other gods. Those devoted to other deities, afflicted by suffering, wander in delusion. How could we have milk here, my son, when Mahadeva has not been worshipped? Whatever was given in a former birth was obtained only by worshipping Shiva—that alone, not anything else, even by worshipping Vishnu, the Lord.” Hearing his mother’s words, the radiant Upamanyu, though just a child, bowed to her and said, “Abandon grief, O greatly fortunate one; Mahadeva exists somewhere. Whether after a long time or soon, I will obtain the ocean of milk.” Thus, with reverence, he set his heart on austerities. His mother blessed him, saying, “Perform auspicious acts,” and gave her consent. Upamanyu, with her blessing, undertook severe austerities. He journeyed to Mount Himavat, sustaining himself only on air, and concentrated with such intensity that his austerity shook the entire world. Witnessing this, all the excellent gods approached Hari and spoke of Upamanyu’s fierce penance. The blessed Supreme Person, hearing their words, wondered at the cause and, understanding the reason, quickly went to Mandara, desiring to see Maheshvara. Upon seeing the great god, Hari bowed and spoke with joined palms: “O Lord, there is a certain Brahmin named Upamanyu, so it is heard. He has given all for the sake of milk; restrain him from his austerity.” Meanwhile, the Supreme Lord Pinaki, deciding to intervene, assumed the form of Shakra, the king of the gods. Thus, Sadashiva, accompanied by gods, asuras, siddhas, and great serpents, assumed the body of the king of the immortals and went to the forest where Upamanyu performed his penance, riding a great white elephant. With Shachi seated on his left and a white parasol in hand, the blessed Soma, Sadashiva as Shakra, shone resplendently, like Mount Mandara with the full moon. In the very form of Shakra, the Supreme Lord arrived at Upamanyu’s hermitage, intent on bestowing his grace. Seeing the Lord, Upamanyu, foremost among sages, bowed his head and said, “This hermitage is purified, for the Lord of gods himself has come; Shakra, Lord of the universe, the blessed, radiant master.” Having thus spoken, with palms joined, Upamanyu stood reverently before the Lord. Hara, bearing the form of Shakra, addressed him with deep words: “I am pleased with you; ask a boon, O steadfast one. By this austerity, I will grant you all you desire, O wise elder brother of Dhaumya.” Thus addressed, the sage replied with joined palms, “I choose devotion to Shiva as my boon.” Hearing this, the Lord, still in the guise of Shakra, appeared somewhat agitated and spoke with a hint of anger: “Do you not know me, O divine sage? I am the king of the gods, the Lord, Shakra, ruler of the three worlds, honored by all the gods. Become my devotee, O best of Brahmins; always worship me. I will grant you all good things; abandon Rudra, the attributeless one.” Hearing these words, sharp as arrows, Upamanyu recited the auspicious five-syllable mantra and declared, “I think, surely, someone has come here in the form of Shakra, some lowly demon, to obstruct dharma; it cannot be otherwise. It was you yourself who, out of a tendency to revile, happened to declare everything about the supreme god’s transcendence and greatness. What more need be said by me here? Today I have understood the great sin committed by another against Bhava, namely, the slander of Bhava that I heard. Upon hearing slander of Bhava, one should immediately abandon their own body at that very moment; by doing so, killing themselves, they swiftly attain Shiva’s world. Whoever tears out the tongue of one who delights in slandering Shiva, after uplifting twenty-one generations, goes to Shiva’s world.” Thus, with unwavering devotion and discernment, Upamanyu stood firm in his faith in Shiva, unmoved even by the Lord’s own test in the guise of Shakra.