ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)
तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भगवान्नीललोहितः प्रहसन्प्राह विश्वात्मा सनन्दनपुरोगमान्
teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā bhagavānnīlalohitaḥ prahasanprāha viśvātmā sanandanapurogamān
Mendengar ucapan mereka, Bhagavan Nīlalohita—Sang Ātman semesta—tersenyum lalu bersabda kepada rombongan yang dipimpin Sanandana.
Suta Goswami (narrating; the direct speaker within the scene is Lord Nīlalohita/Śiva)
It frames Śiva (Nīlalohita) as viśvātmā—the universal indweller—so Linga worship is implied as worship of the all-pervading Pati through a sacred form accessible to the devotee.
By calling Him “Bhagavān” and “viśvātmā,” the verse presents Śiva as the supreme Pati who transcends yet pervades all beings, responding with compassionate ease (a smile) to seekers led by Sanandana.
No specific rite is named in this line; it serves as the narrative gateway for instruction—typically Śiva’s upadeśa that aligns with Pāśupata orientation: turning the pashu toward the Pati through knowledge, devotion, and disciplined practice.