ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)
पुंसां पशुपतिर्देवश् चाष्टधाहं व्यवस्थितः काठिन्यं यत्तनौ सर्वं पार्थिवं परिगीयते
puṃsāṃ paśupatirdevaś cāṣṭadhāhaṃ vyavasthitaḥ kāṭhinyaṃ yattanau sarvaṃ pārthivaṃ parigīyate
Para os seres corporificados, o Deva Paśupati está aqui estabelecido como o princípio óctuplo. Toda dureza encontrada no corpo—tudo isso é proclamado como o elemento terrestre (pārthiva).
Suta Goswami (narrating the doctrine as taught in the Linga Purana’s Shaiva exposition)
It links Shiva (Pashupati) to an eightfold cosmic-and-bodily framework, guiding the devotee to see the body and elements as pervaded by the Lord—supporting bhuta-shuddhi and Linga-centered contemplation.
Shiva is presented as Pati—the governing Lord of all pashus—present as an ordered, eightfold manifestation, while still transcending the elements that constitute embodied experience.
Elemental discernment (bhuta-viveka) and purification: recognizing hardness/solidity in the body as earth-element, a step used in Pashupata Yoga and Shaiva bhuta-shuddhi prior to worship.