Shloka 27
श्रुत्वा मेनामुखाद्वृत्तन्तत्सर्वं सुचुकोप सः । आज्ञां चकारानुचरान्बहिः कर्तुं च भिक्षुकम्
śrutvā menāmukhādvṛttantatsarvaṃ sucukopa saḥ | ājñāṃ cakārānucarānbahiḥ kartuṃ ca bhikṣukam
Hearing from Menā’s own mouth the entire account of what had happened, he became exceedingly enraged. He then commanded his attendants to drive that mendicant out.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana
Sthala Purana: Episode belongs to the Himālaya–Menā household narrative where Śiva, veiled as a bhikṣu (mendicant), tests and instructs; the ‘expulsion’ attempt becomes the prelude to revelation of His true supremacy.
Significance: Didactic: teaches discernment (viveka) that the Lord may appear in humble/veiled guise; honoring ascetics and guests becomes a means to avoid aparādha and gain Śiva’s grace.
FAQs
It highlights the clash between worldly pride and the Shaiva ideal of reverence toward ascetics; anger and expulsion of a holy mendicant becomes a sign of spiritual ignorance that later teachings correct.
In Shaiva tradition, Shiva is often approached through Saguna forms such as the wandering ascetic; disrespect toward such a form (or Shiva’s devotee) is treated as a serious lapse, contrasted with proper devotion to Shiva in visible, worship-worthy manifestations like the Linga.
The takeaway is restraint and reverence: cultivate mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a humility-based devotional attitude toward sadhus, rather than reacting with anger.