दारुवनलीला—नीललोहितपरीक्षा, ब्रह्मोपदेशः, अतिथिधर्मः, संन्यासक्रमः
पितामह उवाच आदौ वेदानधीत्यैव श्रद्धया च गुरोः सदा विचार्यार्थं मुनेर्धर्मान् प्रतिज्ञाय द्विजोत्तमाः
pitāmaha uvāca ādau vedānadhītyaiva śraddhayā ca guroḥ sadā vicāryārthaṃ munerdharmān pratijñāya dvijottamāḥ
Pitāmaha (Brahmā) disse: “Primeiro, tendo estudado devidamente os Vedas com fé (śraddhā) e com constante reverência ao Guru, os melhores entre os duas-vezes-nascidos devem fazer voto de assumir os dharmas do muni, para a verdadeira investigação.”
Brahma (Pitamaha)
It establishes that Linga-upāsanā should rest on śraddhā, Vedic study, and guru-guided discipline—so worship becomes a conscious path of vicāra (discernment) rather than mere ritual.
By emphasizing vicāra and dharma undertaken under a guru, it implies that realizing Pati (the Lord, Śiva) requires purification of the pashu (soul) from pāśa (bondage) through right knowledge and disciplined conduct.
The verse highlights preparatory sādhana: Veda-adhyayana, guru-sevā, and taking vows (pratijñā) to follow a muni’s dharma—foundational to Pāśupata-style discipline before deeper Śaiva worship.