Asato má sadgamaya tamaso má jyotirgamaya
Mrtyormá amrtaḿ gamaya ávirávirmayaedhi.

Rudra yatte dakśińaḿ mukhaḿ tena máḿ páhinityam.

The rśi prays, “Lead me from the mutable (asat) to the immutable (sat), from darkness (tamas) to light (jyoti), from morality (mrtyu) to immortality (amrta).”

Before understanding the meaning of the shloka, try to understand properly the significance of the words used in it and their reference. The first pair of words is “asad-sad.” That which undergoes a process of metamorphosis is called “asad.” There is no happiness in it. We don’t want this changing world; it gives us pain. It converts our happiness into unhappiness. The second word is “tamas.” Where there is tamas there is no essence of spirituality. Therefore the prayer petitions someone to take him from asad to sad, from darkness to light.

Through change, a baby becomes old. Final change is known as “death”. That which is mutable is death. Therefore the rśi wants to be led from mortality to immortality.

Bear in mind always that the coming of an entity with akalyáńa (that which is spiritually bad) is prádurbháva. Prádurbháva is the premonition of akalyáńa. The exact antonym for this is ávirbháva. Ávirbháva is connected with kalyáńa (spiritual good). Ávirbháva happens all of a sudden. When there is a premonition of something blissful, it is ávirbháva. You say, “Let your ávirbháva be in me.”

One who makes others shed tears is “rudra.” Soft weeping is known as “rudana,” and weeping loudly is “krandana.” Similarly, there is smiling and laughing. So rudra will make you shed tears - whether you weep slowly or loudly.

Sadáshiva takes ávirbháva. He is beneficent (kalyáńakári.) Since He has three eyes and five faces, He is known as “Trinetra” and “Paiṋca Vaktram.” Of His five faces, the one on the extreme left is Váma Deva. The other four are Kálágni, Kalyáńa Sundaram, Iishána and Dakśińeshvara. Váma Deva is one who punishes mercilessly. Dakśhińeshvara gives warning (tádana). Kálágni warns of the consequences and gives a hint of punishment. Kalyáńa Sundaram says, “You are quite good. Come and take your place.” Iishána makes one understand in sweet language and punishes also.

When Rudra is on the right (dakśińa), we pray to Him, “O Shiva! Protect me as Dakśińeshvara.” Even if He is happy, He also makes one weep. Tears fall from the outer side of the eyes in happiness, and from the inner side of the eyes in unhappiness. Therefore He is known as “Paiṋca Vaktram.”