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
దేహధారులైన జీవులకు దేవుడు పశుపతి ఇక్కడ అష్టధా తత్త్వరూపంగా స్థితుడై ఉన్నాడు. దేహంలో ఉన్న కాఠిన్యమంతా పార్థివ తత్త్వమని ప్రకటించబడును॥
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.