Shloka 48
गौतमविघ्नप्रकरणम्
Episode of Obstacles to Gautama; Gaṇeśa’s Appearing Through Misguided Worship
गौतमो दूरतः स्थित्वा नत्वा तानृषिसत्तमान् । पप्रच्छ विनयाविष्टः किं कार्यं हि मयाधुना
gautamo dūrataḥ sthitvā natvā tānṛṣisattamān | papraccha vinayāviṣṭaḥ kiṃ kāryaṃ hi mayādhunā
ഗൗതമൻ അകലെ നിന്നുകൊണ്ട് ആ ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ഋഷിമാരെ നമസ്കരിച്ചു; വിനയഭാവത്തോടെ—“ഇപ്പോൾ ഞാൻ എന്ത് ചെയ്യണം?” എന്നു ചോദിച്ചു।
Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; Gautama speaks within the narrative)
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the verse frames Gautama’s submission to ṛṣis, setting up a prāyaścitta sequence that later culminates in Śiva’s grace in the broader narrative arc.
Significance: Models the pilgrim’s prerequisite of vinaya (humility) and guru/ṛṣi-guidance before undertaking expiatory pilgrimage-vrata.
FAQs
The verse highlights vinaya (humility) as the doorway to Shaiva grace: the seeker bows, restrains ego, and asks for right action (dharma), making himself fit for Shiva’s guidance through the sages.
Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not merely external; it is approached through reverence, purity of intent, and submission to scriptural and guru-like instruction—here symbolized by Gautama respectfully seeking direction from the rishis.
The takeaway is preparatory discipline: bowing (namaskāra), respectful conduct, and seeking prescribed practice—typically expressed in Shaiva contexts as mantra-japa (e.g., Panchakshara), and regulated worship under guidance.