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
وہ بہادر ہستیاں—خوشی میں رقصاں اور کھیل میں مشغول—برہما وغیرہ عظیم دل دیوتاؤں سے گھیرے ہوئے، یوں جلوہ گر تھیں گویا دیویہ کھیل میں گیند کو ایک دوسرے کی طرف اچھال رہے ہوں۔
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).