Nāgeśa-jyotirliṅga-prādurbhāvaḥ — The Manifestation of the Nāgeśa Jyotirliṅga
तद्वरश्च मया प्राप्तः कथं दुःखं विषह्यते । जलं वनं च नीत्वा वै सुखं स्थेयं तु राक्षसैः
tadvaraśca mayā prāptaḥ kathaṃ duḥkhaṃ viṣahyate | jalaṃ vanaṃ ca nītvā vai sukhaṃ stheyaṃ tu rākṣasaiḥ
Anugerah itu telah kuperoleh; bagaimana mungkin penderitaan ditanggung lagi? Dengan membawa air dan memasuki hutan, para rākṣasa hendaknya tinggal dengan tenteram.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Kotirudra Saṃhitā dialogue to the sages; the verse itself is spoken by a rākṣasa figure within the story)
Tattva Level: pashu
It highlights how worldly boons can inflate ego and create a false sense of invulnerability; Shaiva Siddhanta stresses that only Shiva’s grace (not mere powers) truly ends duḥkha and the bondage of pasha.
In Jyotirlinga-centered narratives, rakshasic confidence based on boons is ultimately humbled by Shiva’s Saguna manifestation (Linga/Jyotirlinga), teaching that surrender to Shiva’s visible, worshipful form is superior to reliance on granted powers.
A practical takeaway is to replace pride in “acquired merits” with Shiva-upasana: japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady devotion at a Linga/Jyotirlinga, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of humility and protection.