दक्षयज्ञ-प्रसङ्गे देवतानां आश्वासनं तथा दण्डविधानम् | Consolation of the Devas and the Ordinance of Consequences in the Dakṣa-Yajña Episode
परेषां क्लेदनं कर्म न कार्यं तत्कदाचन । परं द्वेष्टि परेषां यदात्मनस्तद्भविष्यति
pareṣāṃ kledanaṃ karma na kāryaṃ tatkadācana | paraṃ dveṣṭi pareṣāṃ yadātmanastadbhaviṣyati
Qu’on ne s’engage jamais, en aucun temps, dans des actes qui affligent autrui. Car le mal ou la haine que l’on dirige vers les autres, ce même fruit revient sur soi.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
It teaches a Shaiva dharmic ethic: harming beings intensifies bondage (pāśa) and returns as suffering to the doer; compassion and non-harming support inner purification that leads the soul toward Shiva’s grace (anugraha).
Linga-worship is not only external ritual; it requires purity of intention. Malice toward others contradicts devotion to Saguna Shiva, who is revered as the indwelling Lord (Pati) of all beings—so true worship includes refraining from causing distress.
A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a vow of ahiṃsā (non-harming) and kṣamā (forgiveness), using the mantra to dissolve hatred before performing any Shiva-pūjā.