Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 43
अन्तराय-उपसर्ग-विवेचनम् / Analysis of Yogic Obstacles (Antarāyas) and Upasargas
प्रतिभासेष्वशुद्धेषु गुणेष्वासक्तचेतसः । न सिध्येत्परमैश्वर्यमभयं सार्वकामिकम्
pratibhāseṣvaśuddheṣu guṇeṣvāsaktacetasaḥ | na sidhyetparamaiśvaryamabhayaṃ sārvakāmikam
അശുദ്ധ ഗുണങ്ങളിലും വെറും പ്രതിഭാസങ്ങളിലും മനസ്സ് ആസക്തനായവന് പരമൈശ്വര്യസിദ്ധി ഉണ്ടാകില്ല; സർവകാമപ്രദമായ നിർഭയപദവും ലഭിക്കുകയില്ല।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific (sthāla) passage; it teaches the Siddhāntic diagnosis of bondage: attachment to guṇas/pratibhāsa (mere appearance) prevents attainment of Śiva’s aiśvarya and abhaya.
Significance: General teaching: pilgrimage is secondary to inner detachment from māyā-guṇas; fearlessness (abhaya) is framed as a fruit of Śiva-realization rather than worldly merit.
FAQs
It teaches that liberation and true divine sovereignty come only by turning away from attachment to the impure guṇas and deceptive appearances, and orienting the mind toward Shiva (Pati), who transcends Prakṛti.
Linga-worship trains the devotee to move beyond surface appearances and guṇa-driven craving; through Saguna worship one purifies the mind, and through steady contemplation one realizes Shiva as the transcendent reality beyond the guṇas.
Cultivate guṇa-detachment through japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and daily Shaiva disciplines such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, using them as supports for inward purification and fearless devotion.