Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

यथा शिवस्तथा विद्या यथा विद्या तथा गुरुः शिवविद्या गुरूणां च पूजया सदृशं फलम्

As Shiva, so is knowledge; as knowledge, so is the teacher; the fruit of worshipping Shiva, knowledge, and teachers is alike.

सर्वदेवात्मकश्चासौ सर्वमंत्रमयो गुरुः तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन यस्याज्ञां शिरसा वहेत्

He is the essence of all gods, the teacher is composed of all mantras; therefore, with utmost effort, one should bear his command upon one's head.

श्रेयो ऽर्थी यदि गुर्वाज्ञां मनसापि न लंघयेत् गुर्वाज्ञापालको यस्माज्ज्ञानसंपत्तिमश्नुते

If one seeks welfare, one should not transgress the teacher's command even in thought; for the keeper of the teacher's command attains the wealth of knowledge.

गच्छंस्तिष्ठन्स्वपन्भुंजन्नान्यत्कर्म समाचरेत् समक्षं यदि कुर्वीत सर्वं चानुज्ञया गुरोः

Whether walking, standing, sleeping, or eating, one should not perform any other action; if anything is done in the teacher's presence, it should be with his permission.

गुरोर्गृहे समक्षं वा न यथेष्टासनो भवेत् गुरुर्देवो यतः साक्षात्तद्गृहं देवमन्दिरम्

In the teacher's house or presence, one should not sit as one pleases; since the teacher is directly divine, his house is a temple.

पापिनां च यथा संगात्तत्पापात्पतितो भवेत् यथेह वह्निसंपर्कान्मलं त्यजति कांचनम्

Just as by association with the wicked one falls into their sin, so here, by contact with fire, gold sheds its impurity.

तथैव गुरुसंपर्कात्पापं त्यजति मानवः यथा वह्निसमीपस्थो घृतकुम्भो विलीयते

In the same way, by association with the teacher, a person sheds sin; just as a pot of ghee melts near fire.

तथा पापं विलीयेत ह्याचार्यस्य समीपतः यथा प्रज्वलितो वह्निः शुष्कमार्द्रं च निर्दहेत्

So too, sin dissolves near the teacher; just as blazing fire consumes both dry and moist things.

तथायमपि संतुष्टो गुरुः पापं क्षणाद्दहेत् मनसा कर्मणा वाचा गुरोः क्रोधं न कारयेत्

Thus, when the teacher is pleased, he burns away sin in an instant; one should not provoke the teacher's anger by thought, deed, or word.

तस्य क्रोधेन दह्यंते ह्यायुःश्रीज्ञानसत्क्रियाः तत्क्रोधकारिणो ये स्युस्तेषां यज्ञाश्च निष्फलाः

By his anger, one's lifespan, prosperity, knowledge, and good deeds are destroyed; those who cause his anger have fruitless sacrifices.

यमश्च नियमाश्चैव नात्र कार्या विचारणा गुरोर्विरुद्धं यद्वाक्यं न वदेज्जातुचिन्नरः

Yama and niyama need not be considered here; one should never utter words opposed to the teacher.

वदेद्यदि महामोहाद्रौरवं नरकं व्रजेत् मनसा कर्मणा वाचा गुरुमुद्दिश्य यत्नतः

If, out of great delusion, one speaks falsely with intent toward the guru—whether in mind, action, or speech—one shall go to the hell called Raurava.

श्रेयोर्थी चेन्नरो धीमान्न मिथ्याचारमाचरेत् गुरोर्हितं प्रियं कुर्यादादिष्टो वा न वा सदा

If a wise man desires what is good, he should not act falsely; he should always do what is beneficial and pleasing to the guru, whether instructed or not.

असमक्षं समक्षं वा तस्य कार्यं समाचरेत् इत्थमाचारवान्भक्तो नित्यमुद्युक्तमानसः

Whether in the guru’s presence or absence, he should perform the guru’s tasks; thus, one who is devoted and disciplined remains ever eager in mind.

गुरुप्रियकरः शिष्यः शैवधर्मांस्ततो ऽर्हति गुरुश्चेद्गुणवान्प्राज्ञः परमानंदभासकः

A disciple who acts in ways pleasing to the guru thereby becomes worthy of Shaiva dharma; if the guru is virtuous and wise, he is a revealer of supreme bliss.

तत्त्वविच्छिवसंसक्तो मुक्तिदो न तु चापरः संवित्संजननं तत्त्वं परमानंदसंभवम्

One who is versed in the truth and attached to Shiva grants liberation, not another; the essence that generates consciousness is the source of supreme bliss.

तत्तत्त्वं विदितं येन स एवानंददर्शकः न पुनर्नाममात्रेण संविदारहितस्तु यः

He who knows that truth alone is the revealer of bliss; but one who is only named so, lacking awareness, is not.

अन्योन्यं तारयेन्नौका किं शिला तारयेच्छिलाम् एतस्या नाममात्रेण मुक्तिर्वै नाममात्रिका

Can a stone carry another stone across, as a boat carries across? Liberation is not attained by mere name alone.

यैः पुनर्विदितं तत्त्वं ते मुक्ता मोचयन्त्यपि तत्त्वहीने कुतो बोधः कुतो ह्यात्मपरिग्रहः

Those who know the truth are liberated and liberate others; without truth, how can there be knowledge or self-realization?

परिग्रहविनिर्मुक्तः पशुरित्यभिधीयते पशुभिः प्रेरितश्चापि पशुत्वं नातिवर्तते

One who is free from attachment is called 'paśu'; driven by others, he does not transcend the state of paśu.

तस्मात्तत्त्वविदेवेह मुक्तो मोचक इष्यते सर्वलक्षणसंयुक्तः सर्वशास्त्रविदप्ययम्

Therefore, only one who knows the truth here is considered liberated and a liberator; even if endowed with all marks and versed in all scriptures.

सर्वोपायविधिज्ञो ऽपि तत्त्वहीनस्तु निष्फलः यस्यानुभवपर्यंता बुद्धिस्तत्त्वे प्रवर्तते

Even if one knows all methods and rituals, without truth he is fruitless; whose intellect, up to direct experience, operates in the truth.

तस्यावलोकनाद्यैश्च परानन्दो ऽभिजायते तस्माद्यस्यैव संपर्कात्प्रबोधानंदसंभवः

From his vision and other means, supreme bliss arises; thus, from contact with him, awakening and bliss are born.

गुरुं तमेव वृणुयान्नापरं मतिमान्नरः स शिष्यैर्विनयाचारचतुरैरुचितो गुरुः

A wise man should choose that guru alone, not another; such a guru is suited to disciples who are skilled in humility and conduct.

यावद्विज्ञायते तावत्सेवनीयो मुमुक्षुभिः ज्ञाते तस्मिन्स्थिरा भक्तिर्यावत्तत्त्वं समाश्रयेत्

As long as knowledge is not attained, seekers of liberation should serve; once it is known, steadfast devotion should remain as long as the truth is embraced.

न तु तत्त्वं त्यजेज्जातु नोपेक्षेत कथंचन यत्रानंदः प्रबोधो वा नाल्पमप्युपलभ्यते

One should never abandon the truth nor neglect it in any way, where neither bliss nor awakening, even in the slightest, is found.

वत्सरादपि शिष्येण सो ऽन्यं गुरुमुपाश्रयेत् गुरुमन्यं प्रपन्ने ऽपि नावमन्येत पौर्विकम् गुरोर्भ्रात्ःंस्तथा पुत्रान्बोधकान्प्रेरकानपि

Even after a year, a disciple may approach another guru; but having sought another, he should not disrespect the former, nor the guru’s brothers, sons, teachers, or guides.

तत्रादावुपसंगम्य ब्राह्मणं वेदपारगम् गुरुमाराधयेत्प्राज्ञं शुभगं प्रियदर्शनम्

There, first approaching a Brahmin who is learned in the Vedas, one should worship a wise, auspicious, and pleasant-seeming guru.

सर्वाभयप्रदातारं करुणाक्रांतमानसम् तोषयेत्तं प्रयत्नेन मनसा कर्मणा गिरा

One should strive to please him, who grants all fearlessness and whose mind is filled with compassion, by mind, action, and speech.