ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)
मनोबुद्धिर् अहङ्कारश् चित्तं चेति चतुष्टयम् अध्यात्मं पृथगेवेदं चतुर्दशविधं स्मृतम्
manobuddhir ahaṅkāraś cittaṃ ceti catuṣṭayam adhyātmaṃ pṛthagevedaṃ caturdaśavidhaṃ smṛtam
Mind, intellect, ego-sense, and citta—the storehouse of mental impressions—this fourfold set is taught as the distinct inner domain (adhyātma); and this adhyātma is remembered as fourteenfold when its inner classification is fully analyzed.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya; conveying a doctrinal enumeration)
It frames Linga worship as inner purification: the devotee must refine mind, intellect, ego, and chitta so the pashu (soul) becomes fit for Shiva’s grace (Pati) and loosens pasha (bondage).
By distinguishing the inner instruments (adhyātma) from the ultimate Lord, it implies Shiva as Pati—transcendent witness and liberator—while manas-buddhi-ahaṅkāra-citta belong to the conditioned pashu under pasha.
Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi (purification of the inner instrument) through Pashupata-oriented discipline—self-observation, restraint, and meditative absorption—so worship is not merely external but inwardly transformative.