अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य — काशी-वाराणसी में मोक्ष, लिङ्ग-तीर्थ-मानचित्र, और उपासना-विधि
ततः पाशुपताः सिद्धा भस्माभ्यङ्गसितप्रभाः माहेश्वरा महात्मानस् तथा वै नियतव्रताः
tataḥ pāśupatāḥ siddhā bhasmābhyaṅgasitaprabhāḥ māheśvarā mahātmānas tathā vai niyatavratāḥ
Então surgiram os Pāśupatas realizados—seguidores de Paśupati—radiantes com o brilho esbranquiçado da cinza sagrada (bhasma) aplicada por todo o corpo. Eram devotos de Maheśvara, grandes almas, firmes em votos disciplinados.
Suta Goswami
It highlights the archetypal Shaiva practitioners who uphold Linga-centered devotion through bhasma-dhāraṇa and strict vrata, presenting the Pāśupata path as a living culture of worship around Mahādeva.
By naming Śiva as Paśupati and Maheśvara, it implies the Siddhānta triad: Pati (Śiva) as the sovereign Lord who governs and liberates the paśu (soul) from pāśa (bondage), approached through disciplined observance.
Bhasmābhyaṅga (smearing sacred ash) together with niyata-vrata (regulated vows) indicates Pāśupata-style ascetic discipline—outer marks supporting inner detachment and devotion to Śiva.