Adhyaya 23: श्वेत-लोहित-पीत-कृष्ण-विश्व-कल्पेषु रुद्रस्वरूप-गायत्री-तत्त्ववर्णनम्
मत्समीपमुपेष्यन्ति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम् इत्येवमुक्तो भगवान् ब्रह्मा रुद्रेण वै द्विजाः
matsamīpamupeṣyanti punarāvṛttidurlabham ityevamukto bhagavān brahmā rudreṇa vai dvijāḥ
“وہ میرے قرب میں آئیں گے—اس مقام کو پا کر جہاں واپسی (بار بار جنم) نہایت دشوار ہے۔” اے دِویجوں، رُدر نے اس طرح بھگوان برہما سے فرمایا۔
Suta Goswami (narrating; reporting Rudra’s statement to Brahma)
It frames Linga-centered devotion and Rudra-upāsanā as a direct means to Rudra-sāmīpya (nearness to Pati), where the Pashu’s bondage (pāśa) loosens and re-entry into saṁsāra becomes rare.
Shiva appears as Rudra, the Pati who grants sānnidhya by grace; liberation is not merely self-effort but culminates in being “near” Him—signifying dependence of the Pashu upon the Lord’s anugraha.
The verse points to Rudra-upāsanā aligned with Pāśupata discipline—devotion, inner turning, and steadfast practice that leads to Shiva-sāmīpya and minimizes punarāvṛtti.