Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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—

ऋजवो मृदवः स्वच्छा विनीताः स्थिरचेतसः शौचाचारसमायुक्ताः शिवभक्ता द्विजातयः

Straightforward, gentle, pure, disciplined, steadfast in mind, endowed with purity of conduct, devoted to Shiva, and of twice-born lineage—

एवं वृत्तसमोपेता वाङ्मनःकायकर्मभिः शोध्या बोध्या यथान्यायमिति शास्त्रेषु निश्चयः

Those endowed with such conduct, purified in speech, mind, and body, should be purified and instructed according to proper method; so is the determination in the scriptures.

नाधिकारः स्वतो नार्याः शिवसंस्कारकर्मणि नियोगाद्भर्तुरस्त्येव भक्तियुक्ता यदीश्वरे

A woman does not have authority in Shiva's rites by herself; it exists only by her husband's command, if she is devoted to the Lord.

तथैव भर्तृहीनाया पुत्रादेरभ्यनुज्ञया अधिकारो भवत्येव कन्यायाः पितुराज्ञया शूद्राणां मर्त्यजातीनां पतितानां विशेषतः

Likewise, for one without a husband, authority comes by permission from her son or others; for a maiden, by her father's command; for Shudras, mortals, and especially the fallen—

तथा संकरजातीनां नाध्वशुद्धिर्विधीयते तैप्यकृत्रिमभावश्चेच्छिवे परमकारणे

For those of mixed birth, ritual purity is not prescribed; but if they have artificial status, in Shiva, the supreme cause—

पादोदकप्रदानाद्यैः कुर्युः पापविशोधनम् अत्रानुलोमजाता ये युक्ता एव द्विजातिषु

They should perform purification from sin by giving water for the feet and other acts; among them, those of proper birth are fit among the twice-born.

तेषामध्वविशुद्ध्यादि कुर्यान्मातृकुलोचितम् या तु कन्या स्वपित्राद्यैश्शिवधर्मे नियोजिता

For them, ritual purity and other rites should be performed according to the mother's lineage; and a maiden appointed by her father or others to Shiva's dharma—

सा भक्ताय प्रदातव्या नापराय विरोधिने दत्ता चेत्प्रतिकूलाय प्रमादाद्बोधयेत्पतिम्

She should be given to a devotee, not to another or to an opponent; if given to an adversary by mistake, she should instruct her husband.

अशक्ता तं परित्यज्य मनसा धर्ममाचरेत् यथा मुनिवरं त्यक्त्वा पतिमत्रिं पतिव्रता

Unable to do so, she should abandon him and practice righteousness in her mind, just as a devoted wife, forsaking a great sage, remains faithful to her husband.

कृतकृत्या ऽभवत्पूर्वं तपसाराध्य शङ्करम् यथा नारायणं देवं तपसाराध्य पांडवान्

She had fulfilled her purpose before, worshipping Śaṅkara through austerity, just as the Pāṇḍavas worshipped the god Nārāyaṇa through austerity.