Greatness of Tryambakeshvara and Goutama

Suta said

Best of rishis, hear an account that destroys sins, which I heard from my guru Vyasa. In earlier times there was a great rishi called Goutama, whose wife Ahalya was devoted to dharma. In the south stands the mountain Brahmagiri, where he practised austerity for ten thousand years. Once a terrible drought struck, lasting a hundred years, and brought suffering to the people. Not a moist sprout was to be seen on the earth, and no water to sustain life. Sages, humans, animals, birds and deer fled in all ten directions. Seeing this, the rishis passed that frightful time in breath control and meditation.

For Varuna's sake Goutama himself practised auspicious austerity and held his breath for six months. Varuna appeared to give him a boon: "I am pleased with you. I will grant you a boon." Goutama asked for rain. Varuna answered: "How can I oppose the gods' command? You know everything. Ask for something I can give." Goutama, wishing good to others, replied: "Lord of the gods, if you are pleased, give me what I ask. You are lord of waters, so give me water, eternal and divine, always bearing fruit." Varuna said, "Dig a pit here." Goutama dug one a hand deep, and Varuna filled it with divine water. Then the lord of waters said to the tiger among sages, who delighted in helping others: "Great sage, this water will be eternal and this place will be a tirtha, famous on earth by your name. Gifts, oblations, austerity, sacrifices to the gods and shraddhas for ancestors performed here will be inexhaustible." Praised by the great sage, the god vanished. Goutama was glad to have helped others.

Taking refuge with the great leads to greatness, but only the great can see this nature, not inauspicious ones. A man gains fruits like the one he serves. Serving the great brings superiority, serving the inferior brings inferiority. They say that serving in a lion's den may bring pearls, while serving in a jackal's den brings only bones. Good people cannot bear the misery of others and relieve it even at cost to themselves. Trees, gold, sandalwood and sugarcane exist on earth only for others, and the accomplished do not act otherwise. The four pillars that hold up the earth are a kind person, one untouched by arrogance, one who helps others and one who has conquered the senses.

So Goutama got water that was so hard to find, and by the rules carried out his daily and occasional rites. For oblations he sowed rice, barley, wild rice and many other grains. There were many grains and trees, flowers and fruits. Hearing of it thousands of other rishis came, and many animals, birds and other creatures. That forest became beautiful on the earth. Because the water never failed, there was no hardship from lack of rain. In that forest the rishis performed auspicious rites, and many lived there with disciples, wives and sons. In time they sowed grain, and by Goutama's power the forest was full of joy.