अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य — काशी-वाराणसी में मोक्ष, लिङ्ग-तीर्थ-मानचित्र, और उपासना-विधि
ततः पाशुपताः सिद्धा भस्माभ्यङ्गसितप्रभाः माहेश्वरा महात्मानस् तथा वै नियतव्रताः
tataḥ pāśupatāḥ siddhā bhasmābhyaṅgasitaprabhāḥ māheśvarā mahātmānas tathā vai niyatavratāḥ
そのとき、成就を得たパーシュパタたち—パシュパティの随者—が現れた。全身に聖灰(バスマ)を塗り、白き光沢を放っていた。彼らはマヘーシュヴァラの信奉者、偉大なる魂にして、規律ある誓戒に堅固であった。
Suta Goswami
It highlights the archetypal Shaiva practitioners who uphold Linga-centered devotion through bhasma-dhāraṇa and strict vrata, presenting the Pāśupata path as a living culture of worship around Mahādeva.
By naming Śiva as Paśupati and Maheśvara, it implies the Siddhānta triad: Pati (Śiva) as the sovereign Lord who governs and liberates the paśu (soul) from pāśa (bondage), approached through disciplined observance.
Bhasmābhyaṅga (smearing sacred ash) together with niyata-vrata (regulated vows) indicates Pāśupata-style ascetic discipline—outer marks supporting inner detachment and devotion to Śiva.