Shloka 31
गौतमविघ्नप्रकरणम्
Episode of Obstacles to Gautama; Gaṇeśa’s Appearing Through Misguided Worship
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे दैवाद्गौतमस्तत्र चागतः । स दयालुस्तृणस्तंम्बैर्वारयामास तां तदा
etasminnantare daivādgautamastatra cāgataḥ | sa dayālustṛṇastaṃmbairvārayāmāsa tāṃ tadā
Meanwhile, by divine providence, Gautama arrived there. Compassionate at heart, he at once restrained her with clumps of grass.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode proper; the verse foregrounds dayā (compassion) as dharma, a hallmark of the paśu oriented toward Śiva’s anugraha—Gautama’s restraint is non-violent and protective.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It highlights dharmic restraint: the compassionate sage intervenes at the right moment, showing that self-control and non-harm are Shaiva virtues that purify the mind and support the soul’s movement toward Shiva (Pati).
In Jyotirlinga-centered narratives of the Kotirudra Saṃhitā, righteous conduct and compassion form the inner worship (mānasa-pūjā) that makes outer pilgrimage and Linga-darśana spiritually fruitful, aligning the devotee with Saguna Shiva’s grace.
The implied takeaway is ahimsa and calm restraint as daily sādhana; a devotee can pair this with steady japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to stabilize the mind before ritual worship.