जातः पुत्रो मंत्रपुत्रः पितरं पूजयेद्गुरुम् । निमज्जयति पुत्रं वै संसारे जनकः पिता
jātaḥ putro maṃtraputraḥ pitaraṃ pūjayedgurum | nimajjayati putraṃ vai saṃsāre janakaḥ pitā
บุตรผู้ ‘เกิดแท้’ คือบุตรแห่งมนตร์ผู้ตื่นด้วยการทีกษา พึงบูชาบิดาดุจพระคุรุ เพราะในวัฏสงสาร บิดาผู้เป็นเพียงผู้ให้กำเนิดก็อาจทำให้บุตรจมลึกลงได้
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Shiva Purana’s teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: liberating
It distinguishes biological birth from spiritual awakening through mantra and dīkṣā, teaching that true uplift comes from right initiation and guidance; without that, worldly lineage alone can keep one bound to saṃsāra.
In Shaiva practice, Linga-worship is traditionally entered and perfected under a Guru’s instruction—mantra, nyāsa, and proper devotion. The verse underscores that the Guru-function (even when embodied by the father) is what leads the seeker toward Shiva, not mere worldly relationship.
Seek dīkṣā from a competent Shaiva Guru, then maintain daily mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī/‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) with disciplined worship; treat the initiatory source of mantra as worthy of guru-veneration.