Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 42
भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins
अशुद्धं बौद्धमैश्वर्यं प्राकृतं पौरुषं तथा । गुणेशानामतस्त्याज्यं गुणातीतपदैषिणाम्
aśuddhaṃ bauddhamaiśvaryaṃ prākṛtaṃ pauruṣaṃ tathā | guṇeśānāmatastyājyaṃ guṇātītapadaiṣiṇām
Wohlstand, der durch Unreines und bloß verstandesmäßige (bauddha) Mittel erstrebt wird, und ebenso weltliche Errungenschaften, die aus der Natur (prākṛta) und aus menschlicher Kraft (pauruṣa) hervorgehen — solche Herrschaftsformen gehören in den Bereich der guṇas. Darum sind sie von denen aufzugeben, die den Zustand jenseits der guṇas suchen.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: General renunciatory discernment teaching: even refined ‘intellectual’ or ‘worldly’ powers remain within guṇa-bound lordship and thus are obstacles for guṇātīta-seekers.
Significance: Encourages vairāgya and viveka as inner pilgrimage: renouncing guṇa-based aiśvarya prepares the paśu for Śiva’s liberating descent of grace.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches vairāgya: even impressive powers and prosperity—whether achieved by intellect, nature, or human effort—remain within the three guṇas. A seeker of liberation should renounce attachment to such aiśvarya and aim for Shiva-realization beyond guṇas.
Linga-worship may begin with saguna supports (form, ritual, devotion), but the verse warns against stopping at worldly “results.” True Shaiva practice uses saguna worship to purify the heart and culminates in seeking Shiva as guṇātīta (beyond qualities), not merely guṇa-bound attainments.
Practice japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady detachment from siddhis and worldly gains; support it with Shaiva purificatory disciplines such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and inward contemplation on Shiva as beyond the guṇas.