Upamanyu’s Tapas, Shiva’s Indra-Form Test, and the Bestowal of Kshiroda and Gaṇapatya
राज्यं स्वर्गं च मोक्षं च भोजनं क्षीरसंभवम् न लभन्ते प्रियाण्येषां नो तुष्यति सदा भवः
rājyaṃ svargaṃ ca mokṣaṃ ca bhojanaṃ kṣīrasaṃbhavam na labhante priyāṇyeṣāṃ no tuṣyati sadā bhavaḥ
لا ينالون مُلكًا ولا سماءً ولا موكشا، ولا حتى غذاءً مولودًا من اللبن. فهؤلاء لا يُحصِّلون شيئًا محبوبًا، وبهافا (شيفا) لا يرضى عنهم أبدًا.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages; internal context inferred)
It asserts that external gains—power, svarga-merit, even the claim of moksha—are fruitless if they do not culminate in pleasing Bhava (Śiva); true Linga-worship aims at Śiva’s prasāda through purity and devotion, not mere acquisition.
Śiva is presented as Bhava, the Pati whose satisfaction is the decisive spiritual criterion; without alignment to Śiva-tattva (devotion, right conduct, inner transformation), the pashu remains bound and does not reach the intended fruit.
The takeaway is prioritizing bhakti-yukta Linga-pūjā and Pāśupata-oriented inner discipline (reducing pasha like ego and desire) over ritual or merit pursued only for worldly or heavenly rewards.