Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37
अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace
तस्माद्दुःखात्मिकां हिंसां कुर्वाणो यः सनिर्घृणः । इति निर्बंधयंत्येके नियमो नेति चापरे
tasmādduḥkhātmikāṃ hiṃsāṃ kurvāṇo yaḥ sanirghṛṇaḥ | iti nirbaṃdhayaṃtyeke niyamo neti cāpare
Ainsi, celui qui, sans pitié, commet la violence—dont la nature même est de faire souffrir—certains affirment qu’il est bel et bien lié par la conséquence karmique et la discipline; tandis que d’autres déclarent : « Non, ceci n’est pas un niyama (observance spirituelle). »
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Shakti Form: Durgā
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse frames violence (hiṁsā) as inherently productive of suffering and spiritually degrading; from a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, cruelty tightens pāśa (bondage) and veils the soul from Shiva’s grace, whereas compassion supports purification and liberation.
Linga worship is not merely ritual but inner alignment: approaching Saguna Shiva with devotion requires śuddhi (purity) and dayā (compassion). Merciless harm contradicts the devotional and ethical ground that makes Linga-pūjā spiritually fruitful.
Adopt ahimsa and compassion as a daily niyama while doing japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); accompany it with simple Shiva-upāsanā such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and mindful restraint of speech and action.