Shloka 18
श्वेतमुनिना कालस्य निग्रहः (मृत्युञ्जय-भक्ति-प्रसादः)
लिङ्गे ऽस्मिन् संस्थितः श्वेत तव रुद्रो महेश्वरः निश्चेष्टो ऽसौ महादेवः कथं पूज्यो महेश्वरः
liṅge 'smin saṃsthitaḥ śveta tava rudro maheśvaraḥ niśceṣṭo 'sau mahādevaḥ kathaṃ pūjyo maheśvaraḥ
“Wahai Śveta, Rudra-mu—Maheśvara, Mahādeva—bersemayam dalam Liṅga ini. Namun Dia tanpa tindakan dan tidak bergerak; maka bagaimana Mahādeva, Maheśvara itu harus dipuja?”
Suta Goswami (narrating an internal dialogue, addressing Śveta or quoting a question posed to him)
FAQs
It frames the core arcana question: the Liṅga is a valid support for worship precisely because the transcendent Pati (Shiva), though actionless in essence, graciously abides in a worshippable symbol for the uplift of the pashu (bound soul).
Shiva is presented as Mahādeva/Maheśvara who is niśceṣṭa—beyond worldly activity—indicating His transcendence over karma and change, while still being immanent through the Liṅga for the sake of grace (anugraha).
Liṅga-arcana is implied: worship of the actionless Pati through a concrete ritual focus, aligning devotion and inner stillness—key to Pāśupata orientation where the pashu turns from pāśa (bondage) toward Pati through disciplined worship and contemplation.