Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8

भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins

Devanagari script

मद्यस्य मद्यगन्धस्य नैवेद्यस्य च वर्जनम् । सामान्यं सर्ववर्णानां ब्राह्मणानां विशेषतः

Transliteration

madyasya madyagandhasya naivedyasya ca varjanam | sāmānyaṃ sarvavarṇānāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ viśeṣataḥ

Translation

شراب، شراب کی بو، اور اس سے آلودہ نَیویدْی (نذر) کا ترک کرنا—یہ قاعدہ سبھی ورنوں کے لیے عام ہے، مگر برہمنوں کے لیے خاص طور پر لازم ہے۔

Word by Word

• मद्यस्य: of liquor
• मद्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• मद्यगन्धस्य: of the smell of liquor
• मद्यगन्धस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्य-गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मद्यस्य गन्धः)

• नैवेद्यस्य: of (improper) offering/food offering
• नैवेद्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वर्जनम्: avoidance
• वर्जनम्: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सामान्यम्: common (rule)
• सामान्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (predicate adjective: common/general)

• सर्ववर्णानाम्: of all social classes (varṇas)
• सर्ववर्णानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वे वर्णाः)

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणभाव/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थ (adverb: especially)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A general niyama: abstain from madya (liquor), even its odor, and offerings contaminated by it; framed as universal, stricter for brāhmaṇas.

Significance: Purity rule protecting ritual efficacy; in Siddhānta terms, reduces āṇava/karma-mala expression by restraining tamasic intoxication that strengthens bondage (pāśa).

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Shiva-worship must be grounded in sattva (clarity and purity); intoxicants and their contamination disturb inner discipline and therefore obstruct steadiness in bhakti and yoga aimed at liberation.

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

In Saguna worship of Shiva as the Linga, naivedya is a sacred offering; anything associated with intoxication is treated as ritually unfit, so abstinence safeguards the sanctity of the offering and the devotee’s devotional state.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain vrata-like restraint: avoid alcohol, its odor, and any food-offering connected to it; then offer pure naivedya while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a clean, focused mind.