Śiva-Naivedya-Grāhyatā-Nirṇayaḥ
On the Proper Acceptance and Merit of Śiva’s Consecrated Food-Offering
न यस्य शिवनैवेद्यग्रहणेच्छा प्रजायते । स पापिष्ठो गरिष्ठः स्यान्नरकं यात्यपि ध्रुवम्
na yasya śivanaivedyagrahaṇecchā prajāyate | sa pāpiṣṭho gariṣṭhaḥ syānnarakaṃ yātyapi dhruvam
ശിവന്റെ നൈവേദ്യം സ്വീകരിക്കാനുള്ള ആഗ്രഹം ആരിൽ ഉദിക്കാതെയിരിക്കുമോ, അവൻ മഹാപാപിയും അത്യന്തം നിന്ദ്യനും ആകുന്നു; അവൻ നിശ്ചയമായി നരകത്തിലേക്ക് പോകുന്നു।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: The verse functions as a general dharma-śāsana: refusal of Śiva-prasāda signals aversion to Śiva’s grace and increases bondage, described in purāṇic idiom as naraka-gati.
Offering: naivedya
It teaches that honoring Śiva’s consecrated offering (prasāda/naivedya) is a direct expression of bhakti and humility; rejecting it indicates inner aversion to Śiva’s grace, leading to demerit.
In Liṅga/Saguṇa worship, offerings are made to Śiva and returned as prasāda; accepting it is part of completing the pūjā, acknowledging Śiva’s presence and blessing through the consecrated offering.
Offer naivedya in Śiva-pūjā and reverently partake of Śiva-prasāda as a vow of devotion; combine it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to cultivate receptivity to Śiva’s anugraha (grace).