Adhyaya 22 — शिवानुग्रहः, ब्रह्मतपः, एकादशरुद्राः तथा प्राणतत्त्वम्
प्रीतो ऽहमनया भक्त्या शाश्वताक्षरयुक्तया भवन्तौ हृदयस्यास्य मम हृद्यतरावुभौ
prīto 'hamanayā bhaktyā śāśvatākṣarayuktayā bhavantau hṛdayasyāsya mama hṛdyatarāvubhau
Estou satisfeito com esta devoção, unida à sílaba sagrada imperecível e eterna. Vós dois sois, de fato, o coração do meu coração—ambos me sois caríssimos.
Shiva (within Suta’s narration)
It frames Linga-bhakti as effective when united with the eternal Akṣara (often understood as Praṇava/Om), showing that mantra-grounded devotion draws Shiva’s direct grace.
Shiva appears as Pati (the Lord) who responds to sincere bhakti and reveals intimate nearness—his grace is not mechanical but relational, rooted in the imperishable spiritual principle (Akṣara).
Mantra-yukta bhakti—devotion conjoined with Akṣara-japa (Praṇava/Om) as a Shaiva practice aligned with Pāśupata discipline and inner recollection of Pati.