Upamanyu’s Tapas, Shiva’s Indra-Form Test, and the Bestowal of Kshiroda and Gaṇapatya
राज्यं स्वर्गं च मोक्षं च भोजनं क्षीरसंभवम् न लभन्ते प्रियाण्येषां नो तुष्यति सदा भवः
rājyaṃ svargaṃ ca mokṣaṃ ca bhojanaṃ kṣīrasaṃbhavam na labhante priyāṇyeṣāṃ no tuṣyati sadā bhavaḥ
ସେମାନେ ରାଜ୍ୟ, ସ୍ୱର୍ଗ, ମୋକ୍ଷ ଓ କ୍ଷୀରଜନ୍ୟ ଭୋଜନ ମଧ୍ୟ ପାଆନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ। ସେମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ କୌଣସି ପ୍ରିୟ ଫଳ ସିଦ୍ଧ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ; ଭବ (ଶିବ) ସଦା ସନ୍ତୁଷ୍ଟ ହୁଅନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages; internal context inferred)
It asserts that external gains—power, svarga-merit, even the claim of moksha—are fruitless if they do not culminate in pleasing Bhava (Śiva); true Linga-worship aims at Śiva’s prasāda through purity and devotion, not mere acquisition.
Śiva is presented as Bhava, the Pati whose satisfaction is the decisive spiritual criterion; without alignment to Śiva-tattva (devotion, right conduct, inner transformation), the pashu remains bound and does not reach the intended fruit.
The takeaway is prioritizing bhakti-yukta Linga-pūjā and Pāśupata-oriented inner discipline (reducing pasha like ego and desire) over ritual or merit pursued only for worldly or heavenly rewards.