Adhyaya 49: जम्बूद्वीप-मेर्वादि-वर्षपर्वत-वन-सरः-रुद्रक्षेत्र-वर्णनम्
एवं संक्षेपतः प्रोक्ता वनेषु वनवासिनः असंख्याता मयाप्यत्र वक्तुं नो विस्तरेण तु
evaṃ saṃkṣepataḥ proktā vaneṣu vanavāsinaḥ asaṃkhyātā mayāpyatra vaktuṃ no vistareṇa tu
因此,我仅以简略之辞述说诸林之中居住修行的苦行者。他们实为无量无数;即便是我,也无法在此将其一一详尽道尽。
Suta Goswami
It frames the tradition as vast and living: countless forest-dwelling Shaiva practitioners uphold austerity and devotion, so the Purana gives a concise enumeration rather than an exhaustive list—implying the widespread, many-branched culture supporting Linga-puja.
Indirectly, it suggests Shiva’s sphere of devotees and manifestations is immeasurable—mirroring the Shaiva view of Pati (Shiva) as ananta (without limit), while pashus (souls) approach Him through many paths of tapas and worship.
The verse highlights vanavāsa and tapas—forest-based ascetic discipline—often associated with Shaiva sadhana and preparatory purity for Linga-puja and Pashupata-oriented yogic restraint.