अन्धकानुग्रहः—शूलारोपणं, रुद्रस्मरण-फलम्, तथा गाणपत्य-प्रदानम् (अध्याय 93)
दग्धो ऽग्निना च शूलेन प्रोतः प्रेत इवान्धकः सात्त्विकं भावमास्थाय चिन्तयामास चेतसा
dagdho 'gninā ca śūlena protaḥ preta ivāndhakaḥ sāttvikaṃ bhāvamāsthāya cintayāmāsa cetasā
อันธกะถูกไฟเผาและถูกตรีศูลแทง นอนราวกับศพ; กระนั้นก็อาศัยภาวะสัตตวะ แล้วใคร่ครวญอยู่ในใจตน।
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya; internal focus on Andhaka’s state)
It shows how the pashu (bound soul) can shift from tamas into sāttvika-bhāva through Śiva’s purifying force; Linga worship is precisely this inward turning—moving from bondage (pāśa) to remembrance of Pati (Śiva).
Śiva-tattva appears as both fierce and compassionate: His śakti burns and pierces to destroy impurity, yet that very discipline opens the space for clarity (sattva) and inner reflection, which is the seed of grace.
The verse highlights inner purification and self-reflection (cintana) arising from sāttvika-bhāva—an essential Pāśupata orientation where suffering and divine chastisement become catalysts for vairāgya and turning toward Śiva.