Nothing is Impossible in Life
There is a story in the Puranas about a child named Upamanyu. Hungry Upamanyu would ask her mother for milk. Being ascetics, they usually had no milk in the house; hence his mother would grind some grains (rice) and boil it in water and then offer the same to him as milk.
Upon returning from a visit to his maternal grandfather’s house and having tasted real milk there, Upamanyu told his mother, “Mother, this isn’t real milk!”
“Son! We are ascetics. We have neither cows nor money to buy milk. If you want real milk or milk pudding, you should worship the Supreme Cause of the Universe, Lord Samba Sadashiva, Sachchidananda Shiva! He alone can fulfil all your desires.”
“Mother, how do I worship Him?”
“Son, set your mind on Him and chant the mantra ‘Namah Shivaya.’”
Upamanyu went to the Himalayas and started the practice of penance. Gradually, with his penance his mind reached a state of Upa-vasa or it reached closer to the One he was worshipping. Lord Shiva decided to test him. The Lord transformed Nandi into the celestial elephant Airavata and He Himself took the form of Indra and appeared in front of Upamanyu. Upamanyu welcomed Him, “O Lord Indra, you are welcome! It’s so kind of you to have graced this child with your presence.”
Lord Shiva disguised as Indra said, “I am pleased at your penance. Ask of me whatever boon you desire and it shall be granted.”
“It is my good fortune that you are pleased with me O Lord, but I wish nothing from you. It is Lord Shiva Who is my presiding deity and I aspire to have His darshana alone.”
Lord Shiva thought that Upamanyu was indeed devoted, but still desired to test him further. He then, still in the form of Indra, started slandering Himself (Shiva). Here Upamanyu’s story shows an example of how a devotee should be single mindedly dedicated to his presiding deity (Ishta) and his sadhana. Even to the King of gods, who had come to him to offer a boon, he said, “I don’t wish any boon from you. I am a devotee of Lord Shiva and shall happily continue with my devotion to Him.” What a firmness of vow! How steadfast will!
While he wasn’t tempted by the allurement of boons, Upamanyu was also incensed by Indra’s disrespect for Lord Shiva. He incanted the Aghorastra mantra onto some ash and threw it towards him. How powerful must that mantra have been! However, Nandi intercepted the ash. Lord Shiva was immensely pleased to see his readiness to fight with Indra! He thought, ‘He is ready to incinerate Indra but isn’t interested in forsaking his devotion to Me!’ Meanwhile, Upamanyu resolved to produce fire so that he could immolate himself therein. But Lord Shiva pacified his resolve. The Lord then made his appearance in his own form and the elephant was transformed into Nandi, the bull of Shiva. Upon realising the lila of his Lord, Upamanyu asked for forgiveness. But the Lord said, “It is none of your faults, sonny. I was only testing your resoluteness and devotion. You are steadfast in vows and firmly devoted to Me. I am pleased with you.”
Lord Shiva then took Upamanyu’s hand and put it in the hand of Mother Parvati. Mother Parvati affectionately put her gracious hand on Upamanyu’s head and said, “Son, you wished for pudding, for milk. Now it wouldn’t be impossible for you to get whatever you wish for.”
This story teaches us that nothing is impossible for one who has self-restraint, vow, concentration and firm devotion to his presiding deity.
One, who doesn’t have steadfastness, no matter how high he might seem to be at present, his downfall is certain. One must be steadfast in his principle. One ought to have some sort of steadfastness in his worship, vow and religious observances.
Source - ashram.org
