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
La prospérité recherchée par des moyens impurs, seulement intellectuels (bauddha), et de même les accomplissements mondains nés de la nature (prākṛta) et de l’effort humain (pauruṣa) : de telles formes de souveraineté relèvent du domaine des guṇa. Aussi, ceux qui aspirent à l’état au-delà des guṇa doivent y renoncer.
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.