Shloka 31
Gautama–Ahalyā-Upākhyāna: Durbhikṣa, Tapas, and Varuṇa’s Boon (गौतमाहल्योपाख्यानम्)
तद्वनं सुन्दरं ह्यासीत्पृथिव्यां मंडले परम् । तदक्षयकरायोगादनावृष्टिर्न दुःखदा
tadvanaṃ sundaraṃ hyāsītpṛthivyāṃ maṃḍale param | tadakṣayakarāyogādanāvṛṣṭirna duḥkhadā
That forest was indeed exceedingly beautiful—supreme upon the earth’s realm. And because it was endowed with an unfailing, prosperity-giving power, even a lack of rain did not become a cause of suffering there.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: The forest is described as ‘supreme on earth’ and endowed with an ‘akṣaya-kara’ (inexhaustible prosperity) power such that drought causes no suffering—typical of kṣetra-māhātmya language indicating divine protection, though no Jyotirliṅga is named in this verse.
Significance: Promises resilience and well-being through sanctified association: the place’s ‘akṣaya’ quality implies sustained support for sādhana and freedom from distress even amid worldly lack.
Shakti Form: Gaurī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that a Shiva-sanctified kshetra carries akṣaya (inexhaustible) auspiciousness—by the Lord’s grace, even worldly deficiencies like drought cannot dominate the devotee’s well-being, pointing to Shiva as the remover of duḥkha.
In the Kotirudra context of Jyotirlinga-tirtha glory, the land’s ‘inexhaustible benefit’ is understood as arising from Saguna Shiva’s presence through the Linga, making the place spiritually fertile even when nature appears barren.
Tirtha-seva with steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple Linga-upachara (water, bilva) is implied—cultivating trust in Shiva’s akṣaya-anugraha rather than anxiety over external conditions.