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
Sự phú quý quyền thế cầu được bằng phương cách bất tịnh, chỉ thuần trí luận (bauddha), và cả những thành tựu thế gian do tự nhiên (prākṛta) cùng sức người (pauruṣa) tạo nên—đều thuộc phạm vi của các guṇa. Vì thế, người tìm cảnh giới vượt ngoài guṇa phải xả ly những điều ấy.
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.