Shloka 27
Sunartaka-Naṭa Avatāra and Pārvatī’s Boon-Request (Śiva as the Testing Benefactor)
श्रुत्वा मेनामुखाद्वृत्तन्तत्सर्वं सुचुकोप सः । आज्ञां चकारानुचरान्बहिः कर्तुं च भिक्षुकम्
śrutvā menāmukhādvṛttantatsarvaṃ sucukopa saḥ | ājñāṃ cakārānucarānbahiḥ kartuṃ ca bhikṣukam
മേനയുടെ വായിൽ നിന്ന് സംഭവവിവരം മുഴുവനും കേട്ടപ്പോൾ അവൻ അത്യന്തം കോപിച്ചു. തുടർന്ന് ആ ഭിക്ഷുക്കനെ പുറത്താക്കാൻ അനുചരന്മാർക്ക് ആജ്ഞ നൽകി.
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.