अध्याय ९६: शरभ-प्रादुर्भावः, नृसिंह-दर्पशमनम्, विष्णोः शिवस्तुतिः, फलश्रुति
इदं तु शरभाकारं परं रूपं पिनाकिनः प्रकाशितव्यं भक्तेषु चिरेषूद्यमितेषु च
idaṃ tu śarabhākāraṃ paraṃ rūpaṃ pinākinaḥ prakāśitavyaṃ bhakteṣu cireṣūdyamiteṣu ca
Inilah rupa tertinggi Pinākin (Śiva)—penampakan berbentuk Śarabha—yang sesungguhnya wajar didedahkan hanya dalam kalangan para bhakta yang telah lama teguh dan berdisiplin dalam usaha rohani yang berterusan.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s teaching; internal attribution to the Shaiva revelation tradition is implied)
It establishes adhikāra (eligibility): deeper Shaiva revelations connected to Shiva’s supreme manifestations are to be transmitted only to mature devotees who have sustained devotion and disciplined practice, safeguarding the sanctity of Linga-centered worship.
Shiva is presented as Pinākin, the Pati (Lord) whose “parama-rūpa” is transcendent and not merely public spectacle—His highest reality is disclosed through grace to qualified bhaktas who have reduced pāśa (bondage) through steady endeavor.
The verse points to sustained sādhana—long-term disciplined striving consistent with Pāśupata-oriented practice (niyama, tapas, and devoted worship)—as the prerequisite for receiving esoteric instruction about Shiva’s higher forms.