Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.34.2
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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paśu-patim
—
Lord of the creatures (Śiva)
Paśu (bound creature) + pati (master). Śiva as guardian of the conditioned souls in the lower modes. Vaiṣṇavas honor him as the chief among devotees while knowing that final śaraṇa is to Kṛṣṇa, the master even of paśu-pati.
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vibhum
—
the powerful, the all-pervading
Śiva is vibhu within his jurisdiction. Śāstra reserves the absolute vibhu-tva for Viṣṇu — Śiva's greatness is real but derivative, like a vast lamp lit from the original sun.
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bhaktyā
—
with devotion
The verse's most weight-bearing word. Even within Śaiva worship, the cowherds' inner mood is bhakti — and bhakti, by Gauḍīya understanding, is always ultimately directed to Kṛṣṇa, the antaryāmī of every devatā.
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ambikām
—
Ambikā, the goddess (Pārvatī)
Lakṣmī-Pārvatī is Bhagavān's śakti in her Śaiva form. Honored here as the consort of Paśupati, she ultimately points back to the original Lakṣmī, who serves Nārāyaṇa — and to Rādhā, who serves Kṛṣṇa.
They worshipped Śiva as one who is dear to Viṣṇu and Vaiṣṇavas, who was capable of bestowing bhakti to the Lord (prabhum) using many articles of worship. Sometimes vibhum is seen instead. The word ca indicates that they similarly worshipped Ambikā. O king! Śukadeva calls Parīkṣit’s attention since he was still absorbed in the rāsa dance.
At the forest (tatra) they worshipped Śiva who is worshippable because he is dear to Viṣṇu and Vaiṣṇavas. He was the protector of animals. Moreover he was capable of bestowing bhakti to the Lord (prabhum). They worshipped with devotion using many articles of worship. The word ca indicates that they similarly worshipped Ambikā. O king (nṛpate)! Being a king, you can understand the curious actions of persons who are curious. Or the Lord protects the worship performed by the devotees for the purpose of devotion to the Lord (as the king protects citizens).
- How much preparation actually enters your worship, and how much is rushed?
- What 'bath' — outer or inner — would dignify your next puja?
The cowherds bathe in Sarasvatī and worship Paśupati with full ritual — like servants of the king paying respectful taxes to the king's appointed governor. The bhakti is real, the worship is correct, and yet the throne in their hearts is never confused with the office they are honoring.
My note
Source: vedabase.io