How did that remarkable child come to be the great expounder of Shiva’s teachings? How did he, through the realization of Shiva’s true nature, become unwavering in his austerities? And how, through the course of his penance, did he receive the supreme power of Rudra’s sacred ash—the very ash that protects the self? This was no ordinary child performing austerities. He was Upamanyu, the son of the illustrious sage Vyaghrapada, wise among sages. In a previous birth, through some unknown cause, he had attained perfection. Yet, by the force of destiny, he had fallen from that state and was now born as the son of a sage. By the favor of Mahadeva and the fortune that attended him, the child was moved to undertake austerities—his simple desire being for milk. Touched by this desire, Shiva himself, together with the ocean of milk, bestowed upon Upamanyu lordship over all hosts and the gift of eternal youth. Even the knowledge of the sacred tradition came to him solely through Shankara’s grace, for the supreme knowledge—manifest and powerful—is known to belong to Kumāra, the youthful god. Thus, Upamanyu’s role as a proclaimer of Shiva’s teachings was established; having received the ocean of knowledge from the sage, he was like the celestial Nandana. The true cause of his absorption in Shiva’s knowledge lay in his own mother’s words, which arose from her sorrow, just as milk naturally flows. It happened once, while Upamanyu was staying at his uncle’s hermitage, that he saw his cousin fully satisfied with excellent, sweet milk. Out of jealousy, he drank only a little himself and, after tasting as much as he wished, saw his cousin content. Filled with longing, Upamanyu joyfully approached his mother and said, “Mother, O greatly fortunate ascetic, give me cow’s milk. I do not desire a little, lukewarm milk, but the very sweet kind.” Hearing her son’s words, his ascetic mother, the wife of Vyaghrapada, was overwhelmed by sorrow. Embracing him with great affection, she lamented her poverty. The child, persistent and radiant like Rudra himself, continued to plead, “Give, give,” again and again. Recognizing his insistence, the sage’s wife devised a gentle means to quiet him. She found some seeds she had gleaned, ground them, mixed them with water, and called her son kindly, “Come, come, my child.” With a heart heavy with sorrow, she embraced him and gave him the artificial milk. But after drinking it, Upamanyu, distressed, said, “This is not milk.” Seeing his disappointment, his mother, sorrowful, caressed him, wiped his lotus-like eyes, and spoke: “There are rivers filled with jewels in heaven and the netherworld, but those without fortune or devotion to Shiva cannot see them. Kingdom, heaven, liberation, or even food made from milk—none of these are attained by those who have not pleased Shiva. All comes from the grace of Bhava; nothing arises from the favor of other gods. Those devoted elsewhere wander, afflicted and deluded. “How can we, forest-dwellers, obtain milk here? Where is the means for milk, child? Because of our poverty, I have given you this milk, churned with water and not true. You tasted pure, sweet, boiled milk at your uncle’s house, and now you remember it. Crying, you say, ‘This is not milk,’ and cause me sorrow. Without the grace of Shambhu, you shall not have milk. “Whatever is offered with devotion at the lotus feet of Sāmbā and his attendants is the source of all prosperity. We have not worshipped Mahadeva with wealth, so he grants fruits according to the desires of those who seek him. We have not worshipped Shiva here for the sake of wealth; thus we are poor, and you have no milk. Only what is given to Shiva in a previous birth is obtained, not what is offered to Vishnu or others.” Hearing these true and sorrowful words of his mother, the child Upamanyu was not disheartened. With boldness, he replied, “If Sāmbā, the son, is truly dead from grief, and if Shankara exists, then abandon your sorrow, O blessed one; all will turn out well. Listen, mother: if Mahadeva exists anywhere, whether after a long time or soon, I will obtain the ocean of milk.” Hearing her wise boy, the mother’s heart was filled with delight. She said, “O dear one, you have spoken well and increased my joy. Do not delay—worship Sāmbā Sadāśiva always. Shiva alone is supreme over all, the ultimate cause; by him, the entire world is created, and even Brahmā and others are his servants. We are servants of that Lord, whose prosperity is gained by his grace; apart from him, we know no other—Shankara, benefactor of the world. “Abandon all other gods. With your actions, mind, and speech, worship only Sāmbā and his attendants, with heartfelt devotion. Of that god of gods, Shiva, the bestower of boons, the mantra ‘namaḥ śivāya’ is said to be the direct expression.” Thus, through his mother’s guidance and sorrow, Upamanyu’s devotion was awakened, and the path was laid for his extraordinary journey in the grace and knowledge of Shiva.