अध्याय ९६: शरभ-प्रादुर्भावः, नृसिंह-दर्पशमनम्, विष्णोः शिवस्तुतिः, फलश्रुति
तावद्भिर् अभितो वीरैर् नृत्यद्भिश् च मुदान्वितैः क्रीडद्भिश् च महाधीरैर् ब्रह्माद्यैः कन्दुकैरिव
tāvadbhir abhito vīrair nṛtyadbhiś ca mudānvitaiḥ krīḍadbhiś ca mahādhīrair brahmādyaiḥ kandukairiva
Napapaligiran Siya ng mga bayaning iyon—sumasayaw sa galak at naglalaro nang masaya—ng mga dakilang diyos na pinangungunahan ni Brahmā; wari’y nagtatapunan sila ng bola sa banal na paglilibang ng mga deva.
Suta Goswami (narrating the scene to the sages of Naimisharanya; contextual attribution)
It frames the devas’ mood of divine sport (līlā) around the sacred narrative, reminding the devotee that Linga worship is not merely petitionary—it is participation in Pati (Śiva) as the cosmic Lord whose play governs creation and order.
Indirectly, it points to Shiva-tattva as the ground of divine līlā: even Brahmā and the foremost devas move in joy and coordinated play within the Lord’s ordinance, emphasizing Pati’s sovereignty over the cosmos and its rhythms.
No specific rite is prescribed in this verse; the takeaway is the bhāva (devotional disposition) of joyful, sattvic celebration that supports puja and Pāśupata-oriented discipline—offering actions as play in service to Pati rather than bondage (pāśa) for the pashu (soul).