Shloka 18
श्वेतमुनिना कालस्य निग्रहः (मृत्युञ्जय-भक्ति-प्रसादः)
लिङ्गे ऽस्मिन् संस्थितः श्वेत तव रुद्रो महेश्वरः निश्चेष्टो ऽसौ महादेवः कथं पूज्यो महेश्वरः
liṅge 'smin saṃsthitaḥ śveta tava rudro maheśvaraḥ niśceṣṭo 'sau mahādevaḥ kathaṃ pūjyo maheśvaraḥ
اے ش्वेत! اس لِنگ میں تیرا رودر—مہیشور، مہادیو—مستقر ہے۔ مگر وہ بےحرکت و بےجنبش ہے؛ پھر وہ مہیشور کیسے پوجنیہ ہے؟
Suta Goswami (narrating an internal dialogue, addressing Śveta or quoting a question posed to him)
FAQs
It frames the core arcana question: the Liṅga is a valid support for worship precisely because the transcendent Pati (Shiva), though actionless in essence, graciously abides in a worshippable symbol for the uplift of the pashu (bound soul).
Shiva is presented as Mahādeva/Maheśvara who is niśceṣṭa—beyond worldly activity—indicating His transcendence over karma and change, while still being immanent through the Liṅga for the sake of grace (anugraha).
Liṅga-arcana is implied: worship of the actionless Pati through a concrete ritual focus, aligning devotion and inner stillness—key to Pāśupata orientation where the pashu turns from pāśa (bondage) toward Pati through disciplined worship and contemplation.