दारुवनलीला—नीललोहितपरीक्षा, ब्रह्मोपदेशः, अतिथिधर्मः, संन्यासक्रमः
पितामह उवाच आदौ वेदानधीत्यैव श्रद्धया च गुरोः सदा विचार्यार्थं मुनेर्धर्मान् प्रतिज्ञाय द्विजोत्तमाः
pitāmaha uvāca ādau vedānadhītyaiva śraddhayā ca guroḥ sadā vicāryārthaṃ munerdharmān pratijñāya dvijottamāḥ
Dijo Pitāmaha (Brahmā): «Ante todo, tras estudiar debidamente los Vedas con fe y con constante reverencia al Gurú, los mejores entre los dos veces nacidos deben hacer voto de asumir los dharmas del sabio, para la auténtica indagación.»
Brahma (Pitamaha)
It establishes that Linga-upāsanā should rest on śraddhā, Vedic study, and guru-guided discipline—so worship becomes a conscious path of vicāra (discernment) rather than mere ritual.
By emphasizing vicāra and dharma undertaken under a guru, it implies that realizing Pati (the Lord, Śiva) requires purification of the pashu (soul) from pāśa (bondage) through right knowledge and disciplined conduct.
The verse highlights preparatory sādhana: Veda-adhyayana, guru-sevā, and taking vows (pratijñā) to follow a muni’s dharma—foundational to Pāśupata-style discipline before deeper Śaiva worship.