Adhyaya 89: शौचाचारलक्षणम् — सदाचार, भैक्ष्यचर्या, प्रायश्चित्त, द्रव्यशुद्धि, आशौच-निर्णय
गुरोरपि हिते युक्तः स तु संवत्सरं वसेत् नियमेष्वप्रमत्तस्तु यमेषु च सदा भवेत्
gurorapi hite yuktaḥ sa tu saṃvatsaraṃ vaset niyameṣvapramattastu yameṣu ca sadā bhavet
Dengan terikat pada kesejahteraan Guru, ia hendaknya tinggal selama satu tahun (dalam pelayanan disiplin). Senantiasa waspada, ia harus tetap teguh dalam niyama dan yama.
Suta Goswami (narrating the puranic teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)
It establishes that Linga-upasana is not merely ritual: the sādhaka must first be trained through guru-sevā and steady yama–niyama, purifying the pashu (soul) so it becomes fit for Shiva’s grace (Pati-anugraha).
By emphasizing vigilance and restraints, the verse points to Shiva as Pati—the liberating Lord—whose realization requires the pashu to loosen pasha (bondage) through disciplined conduct under the Guru’s guidance.
A preparatory Pashupata-style sādhana: one-year residence in service to the Guru, with continuous commitment to yamas (restraints) and niyamas (observances) as the ethical foundation for higher mantra, dhyana, and Linga-puja.