Adhyaya 33: Pashupata Conduct, Bhasma-Vrata, and Shiva’s Boon to the Sages
ततः प्रमुदिता विप्राः श्रुत्वैवं कथितं तदा गन्धोदकैः सुशुद्धैश् च कुशपुष्पविमिश्रितैः
tataḥ pramuditā viprāḥ śrutvaivaṃ kathitaṃ tadā gandhodakaiḥ suśuddhaiś ca kuśapuṣpavimiśritaiḥ
ثم إن حكماء البراهمة فرحوا إذ سمعوا البيان على هذا النحو. وفي ذلك الحين شرعوا في إعداد ماءٍ عَطِرٍ بالغ الطهارة، ممزوجٍ بعشب الكوشا وبالزهور، ليكون قربانًا مُطهِّرًا لعبادة شِيفا.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
It highlights the preparatory sanctification (śuddhi) for Liṅga-pūjā—using pure, fragrant water with kuśa and flowers—showing that proper ritual readiness supports focused devotion to Pati (Śiva).
By emphasizing purification and reverent preparation, the verse implies Śiva as Pati—the supremely pure Lord—approached through ordered rites that steady the pashu (individual soul) amid pasha (bondage).
A puja-vidhi element: preparing gandhodaka (fragrant consecrated water) mixed with kuśa and flowers for ritual sprinkling/offerings—an outer discipline that supports inner one-pointedness aligned with Pāśupata-oriented devotion.