Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

नो माद्यन्ति तथा भैक्ष्यैर्भिक्षवोऽप्यतिसंस्कृतैः । यथा मानसुधापानैर्ननु भिक्षाटनज्वराः

Transliteration

no mādyanti tathā bhaikṣyairbhikṣavo'pyatisaṃskṛtaiḥ | yathā mānasudhāpānairnanu bhikṣāṭanajvarāḥ

Translation

Même les mendiants ne s’enivrent pas autant de la nourriture d’aumône, fût-elle préparée avec une exquise finesse, qu’ils ne s’enivrent en buvant le nectar de l’esprit ; oui, telle est la fièvre impérieuse de l’errance pour la quête d’aumônes.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• mādyanti: (they) become intoxicated
• mādyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mad (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम्; धात्वर्थः—मद् = मत्तत्वे (to be intoxicated)

• tathā: thus / in that way
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in that manner)

• bhaikṣyaiḥ: by alms-food
• bhaikṣyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaikṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचनम्

• bhikṣavaḥ: mendicants
• bhikṣavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhikṣu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचनम्

• api: also / even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• ati-saṃskṛtaiḥ: over-refined / highly prepared
• ati-saṃskṛtaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + saṃskṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ धातु)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; 'अति' इति अव्ययपूर्वकं 'संस्कृत' (भूतकृदन्त/कृतप्रत्ययः—क्त) ; नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (bhaikṣyaiḥ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (as/just as)

• mānasa-udhā-pānaiḥ: by drinking mental nectar
• mānasa-udhā-pānaiḥ: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānasa (प्रातिपदिक) + sudhā (प्रातिपदिक) + pāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारय-समाससन्निकर्षः: 'मानसी सुधा' (mental nectar) + 'पान' (drinking) → 'मानसुधापान'; नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• nanu: indeed / surely
• nanu: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nanu (अव्यय)
• Form: ननु-इति निपातः (particle of emphasis/indeed)

• bhikṣāṭana-jvarāḥ: the fever of alms-wandering
• bhikṣāṭana-jvarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhikṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + āṭana (प्रातिपदिक) + jvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः: 'भिक्षायाः आटनम्' (going for alms) तेन सम्बन्धिनः 'ज्वराः'; पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames renunciation as an inner discipline: the ‘nectar of mind’ can intoxicate more than food, warning aspirants that subtle attachments persist even in ascetic life.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that the strongest “intoxication” is not sensory pleasure like fine food, but the subtle craving and self-satisfaction of the mind; Shaiva teaching directs the seeker to cool this inner fever through Shiva-oriented detachment (vairāgya) and disciplined awareness.

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

Linga-worship trains the mind to rest in Shiva as Pati (the Lord) rather than chase mental tastes; by offering actions and cravings into Shiva, the devotee turns outward wandering into inward surrender and steadiness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with mindful restraint: observe cravings as they arise, apply vibhuti (Tripuṇḍra) as a reminder of impermanence, and cultivate inner coolness through breath and mantra so the “bhikṣāṭana-jvara” subsides.