आचार्य-धर्मलक्षण-श्रद्धाभक्तिप्राधान्यं तथा लिङ्गे ध्यान-पूजाविधानसंकेतः
Adhyaya 10
सम्यग्विनीता ऋजवस् तानाचार्यान् प्रचक्षते स्वयमाचरते यस्माद् आचारे स्थापयत्यपि
samyagvinītā ṛjavas tānācāryān pracakṣate svayamācarate yasmād ācāre sthāpayatyapi
Die, welche vollkommen geschult und aufrichtig sind, nennt man Ācāryas; denn sie üben selbst rechtes Verhalten und richten auch andere in eben diesem Verhalten aus.
Suta Goswami
It defines the ācārya as one who embodies and transmits sadācāra, implying that proper Linga-pūjā is safeguarded by lived discipline (ācāra) and correct initiation-guidance rather than mere recitation.
By stressing purity of conduct and the power to establish others in it, the verse aligns with Shiva as Pati—the liberating Lord—whose grace operates through the guru who models and imparts the Shaiva path that loosens pāśa (bondage) upon the paśu (soul).
Pāśupata-oriented sadācāra: self-practice (svayam ācarate) and training others in disciplined conduct, which is the foundation for effective mantra, pūjā-vidhi, and yogic restraints in Shaiva sādhanā.