Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

तावदाराधयेच्छिष्यः प्रसन्नोसौ भवेद्यथा तस्मिन्प्रसन्ने शिष्यस्य सद्यः पापक्षयो भवेत्

The disciple should worship until the teacher is pleased; when the teacher is pleased, the disciple's sins are immediately destroyed.

तस्माद्धनानि रत्नानि क्षेत्राणि च गृहाणि च भूषणानि च वासांसि यानशय्यासनानि च

Therefore, wealth, jewels, fields, houses, ornaments, garments, vehicles, beds, and seats—

एतानि गुरवे दद्याद्भक्त्या वित्तानुसारतः वित्तशाठ्यं न कुर्वीत यदीच्छेत्परमां गतिम्

These should be given to the teacher with devotion, according to one's means; one should not act deceitfully with wealth, if one desires the highest path.

स एव जनको माता भर्ता बन्धुर्धनं सुखम् सखा मित्रं च यत्तस्मात्सर्वं तस्मै निवेदयेत्

He alone is father, mother, husband, relative, wealth, happiness, friend, companion; therefore, everything should be offered to him.

निवेद्य पश्चात्स्वात्मानं सान्वयं सपरिग्रहम् समर्प्य सोदकं तस्मै नित्यं तद्वशगो भवेत्

After offering, one should surrender oneself, along with family and possessions, with water, to him, and always remain under his authority.

यदा शिवाय स्वात्मानं दत्तवान् देशिकात्मने तदा शैवो भवेद्देही न ततो ऽस्ति पुनर्भवः

When one has given oneself to Shiva, to the teacher's self, then one becomes a Shaiva; after that, there is no rebirth.

गुरुश्च स्वाश्रितं शिष्यं वर्षमेकं परीक्षयेत् ब्राह्मणं क्षत्रियं वैश्यं द्विवर्षं च त्रिवर्षकम्

The teacher should examine the disciple who has taken refuge for one year; a Brahmin, Kshatriya, or Vaishya for two or three years.

प्राणद्रव्यप्रदानाद्यैरादेशैश्च समासमैः उत्तमांश्चाधमे कृत्वा नीचानुत्तमकर्मणि

By instructions such as giving life and wealth, and by concise commands, the best are distinguished from the lowest, and the lowest from the best in actions.

आक्रुष्टास्ताडिता वापि ये विषादं न यान्त्यपि ते योग्याः संयताः शुद्धाः शिवसंस्कारकर्मणि

Those who, even when insulted or struck, do not become despondent—they are fit, restrained, and pure for the rites of Shiva.

अहिंसका दयावंतो नित्यमुद्युक्तचेतसः अमानिनो बुद्धिमंतस्त्यक्तस्पर्धाः प्रियंवदाः

Nonviolent, compassionate, always diligent in mind, humble, intelligent, free from envy, and speaking pleasantly—