अध्याय ९६: शरभ-प्रादुर्भावः, नृसिंह-दर्पशमनम्, विष्णोः शिवस्तुतिः, फलश्रुति
उपहस्ता ज्वरं भीमो मृगपक्षिहिरण्मयः शास्ताशेषस्य जगतो न त्वं नैवचतुर्मुखः
upahastā jvaraṃ bhīmo mṛgapakṣihiraṇmayaḥ śāstāśeṣasya jagato na tvaṃ naivacaturmukhaḥ
‘اوپہستا، جورا، بھیم، اور مِرگ و پرندوں کی صورتیں دھارنے والا ہِرنْمَی—وہی باقی تمام جگت کا شاستا (حاکم) ہے۔ نہ تو وہ ہے، نہ ہی چہارچہرہ برہما۔’
Suta Goswami (narrating a doctrinal point asserting Shiva as Pati beyond Brahma and other devas)
It establishes Shiva (Pati) as the sole universal governor beyond Brahmā and other powers, grounding Linga-worship in the recognition of the Supreme Lord rather than limited cosmic offices.
Shiva-tattva is presented as sovereign and all-pervasive—capable of assuming manifold forms (even animal and bird forms) while remaining the ultimate Śāstā, the ruler of all worlds.
The key takeaway aligns with Pāśupata orientation: discriminate Pati from all conditioned authorities (pashu-bound beings) and fix devotion and meditation on Shiva alone as the supreme ruler.