Adhyaya 79 — Bhakti-Mahima and Linga-Archana-Vidhi
Condensed Ritual Sequence
व्यासेन कथितः पूर्वं श्रुत्वा रुद्रमुखात्स्वयम्
vyāsena kathitaḥ pūrvaṃ śrutvā rudramukhātsvayam
Outrora, Vyāsa expôs isto após tê-lo ouvido pessoalmente da própria boca de Rudra; assim se preserva o ensinamento śaiva como revelação direta de Pati (Śiva), para a libertação do paśu (a alma atada).
Suta Goswami (narrating the provenance of the teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
It establishes scriptural authority: Linga-related Śaiva doctrine is presented as a direct Rudra-utterance preserved by Vyāsa, making Linga-pūjā grounded in revealed Śiva-tattva rather than mere custom.
Śiva appears as Rudra, the Pati whose speech itself is pramāṇa (valid means of knowledge), implying His role as the ultimate teacher who grants liberating knowledge to the bound paśu.
The verse highlights śravaṇa (reverent hearing) and guru-paramparā as the first limb of practice—foundational for Pāśupata discipline and for correct Śiva-pūjā/vidhi transmitted through lineage.