उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः
तस्मात्संसिद्धिमन्विच्छन् सम्यगाचारवान् भवेत् दुर्वृत्तः शुद्धिभूयिष्ठः पापीयान् ज्ञानदूषकः
tasmātsaṃsiddhimanvicchan samyagācāravān bhavet durvṛttaḥ śuddhibhūyiṣṭhaḥ pāpīyān jñānadūṣakaḥ
Therefore, one who seeks true accomplishment should become established in right conduct. For the ill-conducted person—though preoccupied with external ‘purifications’—becomes more sinful and ends up corrupting liberating knowledge, which is the means to the Pati (Lord) beyond bondage.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)
It states that Linga-puja bears fruit (siddhi) only when grounded in samyag-ācāra (right conduct); mere external cleanliness without ethical transformation becomes a distortion of worship.
By implication, Shiva as Pati is approached through jñāna supported by dharma; when conduct is corrupt, one ‘pollutes’ that jñāna and remains bound as pashu under pasha.
It emphasizes the Shaiva principle that inner discipline and truthful conduct are primary, while śuddhi-kriyās (purificatory rites) are secondary and must not become a substitute for Pashupata-style ethical restraint and clarity of knowledge.