Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39
अनुग्रह-स्वातन्त्र्य-प्रमाणविचारः | Inquiry into Pramāṇa, Divine Autonomy, and Grace
घृणापि न गुणायैव हिंस्रेषु प्रतियोगिषु । तादृशेषु घृणी भ्रान्त्या घृणान्तरितनिर्घृणः
ghṛṇāpi na guṇāyaiva hiṃsreṣu pratiyogiṣu | tādṛśeṣu ghṛṇī bhrāntyā ghṛṇāntaritanirghṛṇaḥ
慈悲でさえ、暴虐なる敵対者に向けられるなら徳とはならない。迷いからそのような者を憐れめば、誤った慈悲により分別が覆われ、内に残酷さを宿す。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: Not a site-legend; the verse warns that misplaced pity toward violent antagonists becomes a form of delusion—an ethical ‘tirodhāna’ (veiling of right discernment).
FAQs
It teaches viveka (right discernment): compassion must align with dharma. When pity is misapplied to those committed to harm, it becomes a veil over intelligence and indirectly supports adharma—obstructing the soul’s purification on the path to Shiva.
Linga-worship trains the devotee to see Shiva as the inner ruler (Pati) and to act from clarity rather than impulse. This verse supports Saguna devotion that matures into steady discrimination—protecting dharma while remaining inwardly free from hatred.
Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady buddhi, and apply bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) as a reminder of detachment—so compassion is expressed without enabling violence or injustice.