Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12
मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach
to the Sage
तण्डुलांश्च तथा हित्वा कृतं वै तुषभक्षणम् । प्रक्षिप्याज्यं तथा तैलं कारण्डं भुक्तमादरात्
taṇḍulāṃśca tathā hitvā kṛtaṃ vai tuṣabhakṣaṇam | prakṣipyājyaṃ tathā tailaṃ kāraṇḍaṃ bhuktamādarāt
Sogar die Reiskörner gab er auf und nahm wahrlich die Hülsen und Kleie zur Speise. Mit Ghee und Öl vermengt, aß er jene grobe Nahrung ehrfürchtig und mit Bedacht.
Sūta Goswāmī (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the verse depicts extreme austerity/renunciation through coarse diet, a common purāṇic marker of tapas undertaken to gain Śiva’s grace.
Significance: General teaching: tapas and vairāgya purify the paśu (bound soul) and dispose it toward Śiva’s anugraha; not tied to a specific shrine.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights tapas through simplicity—reducing indulgence and accepting coarse food—showing that inner restraint and reverence purify the mind for Shiva-bhakti and steady sadhana.
Such disciplined living supports Saguna Shiva worship by making offerings and mantra-japa sincere rather than pleasure-driven; austerity becomes an inner offering to Shiva, the Pati who liberates the bound soul (paśu).
A practical takeaway is vrata-like restraint (simple diet), combined with steady japa of the Panchakshara and mindful worship—treating daily conduct itself as part of Shiva-sadhana.