अध्याय ९६: शरभ-प्रादुर्भावः, नृसिंह-दर्पशमनम्, विष्णोः शिवस्तुतिः, फलश्रुति
विश्वाधिकः स्वतन्त्रश् च कर्ता हर्ताखिलेश्वरः इदं तु मत्परं तेजः कः पुनः श्रोतुमिच्छति
viśvādhikaḥ svatantraś ca kartā hartākhileśvaraḥ idaṃ tu matparaṃ tejaḥ kaḥ punaḥ śrotumicchati
विश्वाधिकः स्वतन्त्रश्च कर्ता हर्ताखिलेश्वरः । इदं तु मत्परं तेजः कः पुनः श्रोतुमिच्छति ॥
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-tattva within the Purana’s discourse)
It establishes Shiva as Akhileśvara—the transcendent, independent Pati—so Linga worship is directed to the supreme Lord who creates and withdraws all, not merely to a worldly deity.
Shiva is portrayed as viśvādhika (beyond the cosmos) and svatantra (absolutely free), the ultimate agent of manifestation and reabsorption—hallmarks of Pati-tattva in Shaiva Siddhanta.
The verse primarily highlights tattva-jñāna (right understanding) foundational to Pāśupata orientation: turning the pashu’s attention to the matpara (Shiva-centered) tejas through devotion and contemplation during Linga-puja.