Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi
नागः कूर्मस्तु कृकलो देवदत्तो धनंजयः एतेषां यः प्रसादस्तु मरुतामिति संस्मृतः
nāgaḥ kūrmastu kṛkalo devadatto dhanaṃjayaḥ eteṣāṃ yaḥ prasādastu marutāmiti saṃsmṛtaḥ
নাগ, কূর্ম, কৃকল, দেবদত্ত ও ধনঞ্জয়—এরা প্রাণবায়ুর ভেদ। এদের সকলকে স্থির ও নিয়ন্ত্রিত করে যে প্রসাদ-শক্তি, তাকেই ‘মরুত্’ (জীবন-বায়ু) বলে স্মরণ করা হয়।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya)
It links inner discipline to worship: steadiness of the life-winds (Maruts) supports mental purity and one-pointedness, making Linga-puja a true offering of the pashu’s (soul’s) inner life to Pati (Shiva).
By implication, Shiva-tattva is the regulating, pacifying principle (prasāda) that harmonizes the pranic forces; He is Pati who orders the pashu’s inner functions and loosens pasha through yogic steadiness.
Prāṇa-samyama (regulated breath and inner-wind balance) as a Pashupata-oriented yogic support for mantra-japa and Linga-dhyana, where calming the upa-prāṇas stabilizes attention.