Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti
तेषां भावं ततो ज्ञात्वा देवस्तानिदमब्रवीत् मा वो ऽस्तु पशुभावे ऽस्मिन् भयं विबुधसत्तमाः
teṣāṃ bhāvaṃ tato jñātvā devastānidamabravīt mā vo 'stu paśubhāve 'smin bhayaṃ vibudhasattamāḥ
そこで主は彼らの内なる様を知り、こう告げた。「おお、デーヴァの中の賢者たちの最勝よ。このパシュ(paśu、縛られた魂)としての状態において、汝らに恐れがあってはならぬ。」
Deva (Pati—Lord Shiva speaking within Suta’s narration)
It frames the devotee’s condition as paśu-bhāva (bonded individuality) and points to the Lord as Pati who grants abhaya; Linga worship is thus approached as surrender to Shiva’s grace that loosens pāśa (bondage).
Shiva is shown as the compassionate Pati who directly knows the inner disposition of beings and dispels fear—indicating omniscience and anugraha (grace) as central features of Shiva-tattva.
The takeaway aligns with Pashupata orientation: recognizing oneself as paśu and cultivating fearlessness through devotion and reliance on Pati’s anugraha, which supports disciplined worship and inner steadiness in sadhana.