Shloka 11
भोजन-आह्वान-प्रकरणम् — The Episode of Invitation and the Divine Feast
सर्वे च मुनयो विप्रा भृग्वाद्या ऋषयस्तथा । बुभुजु प्रीतितस्सर्वे पृथक् पंक्तिगतास्तदा
sarve ca munayo viprā bhṛgvādyā ṛṣayastathā | bubhuju prītitassarve pṛthak paṃktigatāstadā
Then all the sages and Brahmin seers—Bhṛgu and the other Ṛṣis as well—sat in separate rows and joyfully partook of the meal, all of them with heartfelt delight.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It highlights dharmic hospitality (atithi-sevā) and annadāna: serving and satisfying Shiva-oriented sages is treated as a meritorious act that supports purity of mind (śuddhi) and devotion, aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on right conduct as a support for bhakti and grace.
In the Shiva Purana, worship is not only ritual before the Liṅga but also service to Shiva’s devotees; feeding ṛṣis respectfully is a form of Saguna Shiva-bhakti, since devotees are regarded as dear to Shiva and worthy of honor.
The implied practice is annadāna and orderly feeding of Brahmins/sages with reverence; as a Shaiva takeaway, one may pair such service with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before and after the offering.