Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23
शिवसंस्कार-दीक्षानिरूपणम् (Śivasaṃskāra and the Typology of Dīkṣā)
श्रेयो ऽर्थी यदि गुर्वाज्ञां मनसापि न लंघयेत् । गुर्वाज्ञापालको यस्माज्ज्ञानसंपत्तिमश्नुते
śreyo 'rthī yadi gurvājñāṃ manasāpi na laṃghayet | gurvājñāpālako yasmājjñānasaṃpattimaśnute
Si l’on recherche le bien suprême, qu’on ne transgresse pas l’ordre du Guru, fût-ce en pensée. Car celui qui observe l’injonction du Guru obtient la richesse de la vraie connaissance.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse teaches that the seeker of śreyas (liberation-oriented good) must maintain unwavering inner discipline by honoring the guru’s instruction even mentally; such integrity becomes the direct cause for jñāna to arise, culminating in Shaiva realization of Pati (Shiva).
In Shaiva practice, Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva-upāsanā are traditionally received through the guru’s upadeśa; following that instruction without inner rebellion preserves purity of intention (bhāva) and steadiness (niṣṭhā), which ripens devotion into knowledge.
It implies guru-niṣṭhā: daily japa of the mantra given by the guru (often the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), performed with mental non-transgression (no inner refusal), alongside simple disciplined observances such as Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa if prescribed by the guru.