देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च
लोककर्ता भूतपतिर् महाकर्ता महौषधी उत्तरो गोपतिर्गोप्ता ज्ञानगम्यः पुरातनः
lokakartā bhūtapatir mahākartā mahauṣadhī uttaro gopatirgoptā jñānagamyaḥ purātanaḥ
وہ جہانوں کا خالق، بھوت پتی، مہاکرتا ہے؛ وہی مہااوشدھی—اعلیٰ ترین شفا کا تَتْو۔ وہ برتر، گوپتی اور نگہبان؛ سچے گیان سے قابلِ حصول، قدیم ترین (پوراتن) آدی دیو۔
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Sahasranama to the sages of Naimisharanya)
It frames the Linga as the cosmic Pati—creator, protector, and primal reality—so worship is not merely ritual but alignment with the transcendent Lord who heals and sustains all beings.
Shiva is presented as Pati (Bhūtapati), both immanent (world-maker, protector) and transcendent (Uttara), and ultimately knowable through jñāna—indicating liberation of the paśu from pāśa through right knowledge and grace.
The verse emphasizes jñāna as the direct means (jñāna-gamyaḥ): in Pāśupata-oriented practice, Linga-pūjā is paired with inner discernment and contemplation of Shiva as the supreme healer and protector.