विष्णुरुवाच—एकाक्षर-प्रणव-लिङ्ग-व्याप्ति-शिवस्तोत्रम्
अग्नये रुद्ररूपाय रुद्राणां पतये नमः शिवाय शिवमन्त्राय सद्योजाताय वेधसे
agnaye rudrarūpāya rudrāṇāṃ pataye namaḥ śivāya śivamantrāya sadyojātāya vedhase
রুদ্ররূপ অগ্নিকে নমস্কার; রুদ্রগণের পতিকে নমস্কার। শিব—শিবমন্ত্রের আত্মতত্ত্ব—এবং সদ্যোজাত বিধাতাকে প্রণাম।
Suta Goswami (narrating a received Shiva-mantra/invocation within the Purana’s discourse)
It sanctifies worship by identifying Agni (the ritual fire) with Rudra, making the Vedic rite itself a direct approach to Shiva as Pati; thus Linga-puja and homa become one Shaiva act of surrender.
Shiva is presented as Pati—the sovereign Lord of the Rudras—and as the very essence of mantra (śiva-mantra), indicating that Shiva-tattva is both transcendent lordship and immanent presence accessed through sacred sound.
Mantra-namaskara joined to Agni-centered Vedic worship (homa) is implied, aligning external ritual with internal Pashupata orientation: the Pashu offers ego and bondage (pāśa) into the fire while taking refuge in Pati.