Shloka 41

भैरवावतारलीलावर्णनम् (Bhairava-avatāra-līlā-varṇanam) — “Narration of the Divine Play of Bhairava’s Descent”

Devanagari script

इत्थं वदति गोविंदे विमला पद्मया तया । मनोरथवती नाम भिक्षा पात्रे समर्पिता

Transliteration

itthaṃ vadati goviṃde vimalā padmayā tayā | manorathavatī nāma bhikṣā pātre samarpitā

Translation

As Govinda spoke thus, that spotless lady Padmā offered into the alms-bowl a sacred gift of food called “Manorathavatī,” a bestowal that fulfills one’s righteous aspirations.

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: क्रियाविशेषण (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb: thus)

• वदति: speaks/says
• वदति: क्रिया (verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• गोविन्दे: in/with Govinda (present)
• गोविन्दे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa: in/with regard to Govinda)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location/context)

• विमला: Vimalā (name)
• विमला: कर्ता (Karta: subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; (व्यक्तिनाम)

• पद्मया: by Padmā
• पद्मया: करण (Karaṇa: by/through)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• तया: by her
• तया: करण (Karaṇa: by her)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मनोरथवती: wish-fulfilling / having desires (name)
• मनोरथवती: कर्ता-विशेषण (qualifier/name of ‘भिक्षा’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोरथ (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित) → मनोरथवत्/मनोरथवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मनः + रथ → मनोरथ as base) + वत्-तद्धित; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण/नाम

• नाम: named
• नाम: सम्बन्धसूचक (naming particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — ‘named/called’

• भिक्षा: alms/food offering
• भिक्षा: कर्ता (Karta: subject of passive ‘समर्पिता’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• पात्रे: in the bowl/vessel
• पात्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa: in the vessel)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• समर्पिता: was offered/placed
• समर्पिता: क्रिया (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√अर्प् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → समर्पित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This verse is narrative and Vaiṣṇava-adjacent (Govinda/Padmā); no Jyotirliṅga linkage is explicit. If embedded in a broader Śiva Purāṇa frame, it functions as an exemplum of dāna/anna offering rather than a liṅga-site origin.

Significance: Highlights the sanctity of bhikṣā-dāna (food-gift) and the idea of ‘manoratha-siddhi’ (fulfillment of righteous aspirations) through pure offering.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Govinda)
• Padma

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse highlights the Shaiva ethic that purity of intent and reverent offering (dāna/bhikṣā) become spiritually potent, supporting dharma and preparing the devotee’s mind for Shiva-oriented liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Though Govinda is mentioned in the narrative, the Purana’s devotional framework treats sacred giving and service as complementary to Saguna worship—acts that purify the heart for steadfast devotion to Shiva and his worship through Linga and ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform food-offering and charity with mantra-remembrance—mentally repeating “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while offering bhikṣā—cultivating humility, purity, and devotion.