Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 42
अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace
तस्माद्घृणा गुणायैव सर्वथेति न संमतम् । संमतं प्राप्तकामित्वं सर्वं त्वन्यदसम्मतम्
tasmādghṛṇā guṇāyaiva sarvatheti na saṃmatam | saṃmataṃ prāptakāmitvaṃ sarvaṃ tvanyadasammatam
Ainsi, il n’est pas admis que la compassion (ghṛṇā), en toute circonstance, soit en elle-même une vertu. Ce qui est approuvé, c’est l’accomplissement juste de l’intention—atteindre le but comme il convient; tout le reste n’est pas approuvé.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it concludes the ethical reasoning: ‘compassion’ is not intrinsically virtuous in all cases—what is approved is prāpta-kāmitva, the successful attainment of the rightful end (dharma/rakṣaṇa).
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse stresses discernment: virtue is not measured by emotion alone, but by whether one’s intention aligns with dharma and leads toward the true aim—freedom from bondage (pāśa) and steady movement toward Shiva (Pati) as the liberating reality.
In Linga/Saguna Shiva worship, devotion must be guided by right understanding (jñāna) and disciplined practice (kriyā). The verse implies that devotional feeling—like pity or sentiment—becomes truly ‘approved’ when it supports the higher purpose: purification, surrender, and attainment of Shiva’s grace.
Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a clear intention for purification and liberation, supported by Shaiva disciplines such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha, so that emotion is anchored in sādhanā and right aim.