Ganeshapurana 1.77: saptasaptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ

1.77.1

vyāsa uvāca |
anyenākāri kenedaṃ vada tat kautukaṃ mahat |
brahmovāca |
jāmadagnyena rāmeṇa vratametat purā kṛtam ||

Vyāsa said: / By what other person was this performed? Tell that, it is a great wonder! / Brahmadeva said: / Formerly, this votive observance was performed by Rāma, the son of Jamadagni.

1.77.2

so'pi kīrtiṃ jayaṃ jñānamāyurdīrghaṃ ca labdhavān |
vyāsa uvāca |
rāmaḥ kathaṃ samutpannaḥ kasmāt kasyāṃ pitāmaha ||

He too obtained fame, victory, knowledge, and long life. / Vyāsa said: / How was Rāma born, from whom, and in whom, O Grandfather?

1.77.3

etatsarvaṃ suvistāryaṃ brūhi tvaṃ mama pṛcchataḥ |
brahmovāca |
śvetadvīpe'vikhyāto jamadagnirmahāmuniḥ ||

Explain all this in full detail to me as I ask! / Brahmadeva said: / In Śvetadvīpa, the great sage Jamadagni was renowned.

1.77.4

manasā sṛṣṭisaṃhārān nigrahānugrahānapi |
yaḥ karoti trikālajñastato devāścakampire ||

He who by thought alone brings about creation and dissolution, chastisement and grace, / knowing the three times—because of him the gods trembled.

1.77.5

yasyāsīt patnyapi tathā reṇukā nāma nāmataḥ |
yasyā lāvaṇyaguñjāpi patnyāḥ kāmasya nābhavat ||

He also had a wife, Reṇukā by name, / equal to not even a guñjā seed of whose beauty was the wife of Kāmadeva.

1.77.6

ratirityeva lokeṣu vikhyātā'bhū tatastu sā |
yayā sammohyayate sarvaṃ kṣamastadvarṇane tu kaḥ ||

Therefore, she was known among the worlds as Rati; / by whom everyone is enchanted, who indeed is capable of describing her?

1.77.7

yannetraśobhāsamprāptyai cakorā jalavāsinaḥ |
hariṇāśca tapaścerurvane chandatṛṇāśinaḥ ||

To attain the beauty of whose eyes the cakora birds dwell in water, / and the deer in the forest, feeding on grass at their pleasure, performed austerities;

1.77.8

yadāsyaśobhāsamprāptyai sevate candra īśvaram |
anādinidhanā devī mūlaprakṛtiriśvarī ||

To attain the beauty of whose face the moon serves the Lord— / the beginningless and endless goddess, the sovereign primal nature (Mūlaprakṛti).

1.77.9

yasyāmajani rāmo'sau viṣṇuryogeśvaro yathā |
jamadagnermahābhāgāt sākṣādīśvararūpiṇaḥ ||

In her was born that Rāma, like Viṣṇu the lord of yoga, / from the illustrious Jamadagni, who was the Lord incarnate.

1.77.10

atisundaragātro'sau sākṣānmanmathamanmathaḥ |
mātāpitṛvacaḥ kartā vikhyātabalapauruṣaḥ ||

He had exceedingly handsome limbs, directly bewitching Kāmadeva himself, / obedient to the words of his mother and father, renowned for his strength and prowess.

1.77.11

devadvijaguruprājñagobodhipūjane rataḥ |
vedavedāṅgaśāstrāṇāṃ smṛtīnāmapi pāṭhakaḥ ||

Devoted to the worship of gods, twice-borns, gurus, the wise, cows, and the enlightened, / a reciter of the Vedas, the Vedāṅgas, the śāstras, and the Smṛtis;

1.77.12

vākyebṛhaspati samaḥ kṣamayā pṛthivisamaḥ |
gāmbhīrye'bdhisamo yastu pitrorvākyaparāyaṇaḥ ||

Equal to Bṛhaspati in speech, equal to the earth in forbearance, / equal to the ocean in depth, and devoted to the command of his parents.

1.77.13

pitrorājñāṃ gṛhītvā sa nimeṣāraṇyamāyayau |
anekavidyābhyasane matiṃ kṛtvā parāṃ sthirām ||

Taking the permission of his parents, he went to Naimiṣāraṇya, / fixing his mind firmly on the study of numerous branches of knowledge.

1.77.14

tasmin gate tadā rājā kārtavīryo mahābalaḥ |
yasya pratāpādabhavad vaśyaṃ bhūmaṇḍalaṃ sadā ||

When he had gone, at that time king Kārtavīrya, possessed of great strength, / through whose prowess the entire orb of the earth was always subjugated;

1.77.15

yasmim̐llakṣmī sthirā viṣṇoraṃśabhūte'khilārthade |
ājau pañcaśataṃ bāṇān sṛjate ripughātakān ||

In whom Lakṣmī was constant, who was an incarnation of Viṣṇu and bestower of all desires, / who discharged five hundred arrows in battle to slay his enemies;

1.77.16

indrādivṛnda sevyo'sau vikhyātabalapauruṣaḥ |
asaṅkhyātā gajā yasya rathavājipadātayaḥ ||

Served by the hosts of gods headed by Indra, renowned for his strength and prowess, / whose elephants, chariots, horses, and foot-soldiers were innumerable;

1.77.17

yasya nirgamane sainyāśchādayanti mahītalam |
varṣākāle yathā meghā dhārābhirvyomamaṇḍalam ||

Whose armies, when he marched forth, covered the surface of the earth, / just as during the rainy season clouds cover the expanse of the sky with showers of rain;

1.77.18

yasya kambusvanaṃ śrutvā dviṣo yānti diśo daśa |
yathā siṃharavaṃ śrutvā mattamātaṅgakoṭayaḥ ||

Hearing the sound of whose conch, enemies fled to the ten directions, / just as millions of rutting elephants flee on hearing the roar of a lion;

1.77.19

yadā tālīpañcaśataṃ svecchayā kurute nṛpaḥ |
tadā sanādaṃ brahmāṇḍaṃ kampate munisattama ||

Whenever that king of his own will clapped his five hundred hands, / then, O best of sages, the universe resounded and trembled;

1.77.20

asau yadṛcchayā yattaścaturaṅgabalānvitaḥ |
nīlavastradharo nīla chatrastādṛśasainikaḥ ||

He, prepared at his pleasure, accompanied by his fourfold army, / wearing blue garments, carrying a blue parasol, with soldiers clad likewise,

1.77.21

vanāni sarito durgān parvatāṃśca viloḍayan |
nānāmṛgagaṇānvīkṣya vinighnannapi kāṃścana ||

Ransacked forests, rivers, forts, and mountains, / observing various herds of wild beasts and striking down some of them.

1.77.22

tataḥ sahayādriśikhare'paśyadāśramamuttamam |
yathā kailāsaśikhare giriśālayamuttamam ||

Then, on the peak of the Sahya mountain, he saw an excellent hermitage, / like the splendid abode of Giriśa on the peak of Mount Kailāsa.

1.77.23

apṛcchat sevakān rājā kasyedamuttamaṃ sthalam ||

The king asked his servants: "Whose excellent abode is this?"

1.77.24

bhṛtya uvāca |
jamadagniriti khyātaḥ sākṣātsūrya ivāparaḥ |
munirāste mahābhāgaḥ śāpānugrahakārakaḥ ||

The servant said: / "Known as Jamadagni, like a second sun incarnate, / dwells the illustrious sage, capable of both curse and blessing.

1.77.25

yasya darśanataḥ pāpa koṭayo yānti saṃkṣayam |
icchā cettatra gantavyaṃ darśanaṃ te bhaviṣyati ||

By the mere sight of him, millions of sins perish. / If you desire, go there; you shall have his sight.

1.77.26

tavaprasādāt sarveṣāmupakāro bhaviṣyati |
brahmovāca |
iti tadvacanaṃ śrutvā gamanāyodyato nṛpaḥ ||

By your grace, there will be benefit for all." / Brahmā said: / Having heard his words, the king prepared to go.

1.77.27

nyaṣedhayat sarvabalaṃ śreṣṭhānādāya tat kṣaṇāt |
yayau taṃ muniśārdūlaṃ jamadagniṃ taponidhim ||

Holding back all his troops and taking only the foremost men at that moment, / he went to that tiger among sages, Jamadagni, the treasury of asceticism.

1.77.28

daśarśa taṃ kuśāsīnaṃ jvalantamiva pāvakam |
praṇanāma sa sāṣṭāṅgaṃ te sarva sahayāyinaḥ ||

He saw him seated on kuśa grass, blazing like a sacrificial fire. / He prostrated himself with eight limbs, along with all those accompanying him.

1.77.29

nānāviśālaśālāsu kuñjavṛkṣāvalīṣu ca |
niṣeduḥ sainikāste tu rājā tasthau muneḥ paraḥ ||

In the various spacious halls and under the rows of bower trees / those soldiers sat down, while the king stood before the sage.

1.77.30

āsane muninādiṣṭe caturbhiḥ parivāritaḥ |
niṣasāda tadā rājā kṛtavīryasuto balī ||

On a seat indicated by the sage, surrounded by four [attendants], / the mighty king, the son of Kṛtavīrya, sat down.

1.77.31

apūjayat tān sarvān pādyārghyaviṣṭarādibhiḥ |
su muniḥ pradadau gāśva śiṣyaiḥ sarvānapūjayat ||

He honored them all with water for the feet, arghya offerings, seats, and the like; / the virtuous sage gave cows and horses, and through his disciples worshipped everyone.

1.77.32

nānāsarovarajale nirmale cārūśītale |
amajjanta tadā sarve sainikā mṛgayārditāḥ ||

In the pure, delightfully cool water of various lakes, / all the soldiers, afflicted by the hunt, then plunged.

1.77.33

śṛṇvan vedaninādāṃśca śāstraśabdāṃśca puṣkalān |
abhito vādaśabdām̐śca tacchiṣyaiḥ samudīritān ||

Hearing the chants of the Vedas, abundant citations from the treatises, / and debating words all around uttered by his disciples,

1.77.34

abravīnmunimukhyaṃ taṃ rājā rājīvalocanaḥ |
adya me pitarau dhanyau janma jñānaṃ tathā tapaḥ ||

The lotus-eyed king spoke to that foremost of sages: / "Today my parents are blessed, as are my birth, knowledge, and ascetic penance.

1.77.35

puṇyavṛkṣo'dya phalito yajjātaṃ tava darśanam |
adya me sampado dhanyāḥ kula dhanyaṃ yaśo'pi me ||

Today the tree of merit has borne fruit, since sight of you has been attained. / Today my fortunes are blessed, blessed is my lineage, and my fame as well.

1.77.36

parabrahmeti yat proktaṃ tadeva tvaṃ na saṃśayaḥ |
ātithyaṃ tava dṛṣṭvaivaṃ parituṣṭaṃ mano mama ||

What is spoken of as the supreme Brahman is truly yourself; of this there is no doubt. / Seeing your hospitality thus, my mind is exceedingly delighted."

1.77.37

iti śrutvā tu tadbrāhmīṃ smayanniva prasannadhīḥ |
ko'si kasyāsi kiṃ nāma kiṃ kāryaṃ tava vartate ||

1.77.38

iti taṃ paripapraccha jānannapi munistadā |
rājovāca |
rājñāṃ svakāryakartṝṇāṃ bhavādṛśanirīkṣaṇāt ||

1.77.39

nānyat prayojanamurūśreyasā'jani tatsphuṭam |
kṛtavīryasuto'haṃ ca kārtavīrya iti śrutaḥ ||

No other purpose arises beyond immense spiritual welfare, that is clear. / I am the son of Kṛtavīrya, known as Kārtavīrya.

1.77.40

anujñāto gamiṣyāmi tato'haṃ nagaraṃ prati |
muniruvāca |
mayā'śrāvi mahākīrtistava rājanyasattama ||

Granted leave, I shall then depart for my city." / The sage said: / "I have heard of your great renown, O best of kṣatriyas!

1.77.41

āsīt tvaddarśanākāṅkṣā jātā purṇyana satphalā |
deha ātmā tapo jñānamāśramo mama sāmpratam ||

There was a longing to see you, which through merit has borne good fruit. / My body, soul, asceticism, knowledge, and hermitage have now,

1.77.42

abhūt tvadāgamād rājan sārthakāḥ sarvasampadaḥ |
akṛtvā bhojanaṃ kicit kathaṃ tvaṃ gantumarhasi ||

Through your arrival, O king, attained their full purpose, as have all my possessions. / Without taking some food, how can you depart?

1.77.43

mama ślāghā bhavelloke nyūnaṃ kiṃ tava vidyate |
kiñcid bhuktvā vraja vibho sanāthaṃ kuru māṃ prabho ||

It will bring me praise in the world; what is lacking in you? / Having eaten a little, go, O all-pervading one; grant me a protector, O lord!"

1.77.44

rājovāca |
satyaṃ bhojanakālo'sti bhoktavyaṃ ca tavājñayā |
annābhāve śrotriyāṇāṃ jalaṃ yācca pibedapi ||

The king said: / "True, it is mealtime, and at your command one must eat; / in the absence of food among Vedic scholars, one may even drink water.

1.77.45

tathā'pyetān vihāyāhaṃ sainikān gaṇanātigān |
jalaṃ pātuṃ na śaknomi kathaṃ bhoktuṃ samutsahe ||

Even so, leaving behind these countless soldiers of mine, / I cannot even drink water; how could I venture to eat?

1.77.46

jāne'haṃ manasā brahman na śaktiḥ sarvabhojane |
bhavaddarśanamātreṇa kṛtakṛtyo vraje'dhunā ||

I know in my mind, O brāhmaṇa, that there is no capacity to feed everyone. / By the mere sight of you my purpose is accomplished; let me depart now."

1.77.47

muniruvāca |
cintāṃ mā kurū rājarṣe bhojayiṣye sasainikam |
caturvidhena cānnena kimasādhyaṃ tapasvinām ||

The sage said: / "Do not worry, O royal sage! I shall feed you along with your army / with four kinds of food; what is impossible for ascetics?

1.77.48

gṛhe te vāhinī yā syāt tāmapyākāraya prabho |
kṣaṇaṃ viśrāmyatāṃ tīre nadyāścārutare śubhe ||

Whatever army may be back home, summon that as well, O lord! / Rest for a moment on the exceedingly lovely and auspicious bank of the river.

1.77.49

yāvat siddhaṃ bhavedannaṃ paścād drakṣyasi kautukam |
ka uvāca |
antaḥ sa vismayāviṣṭo jagāma kṛtavīryajaḥ ||

Until the food is prepared, afterwards you shall witness a wonder." / Brahmā said: / Inwardly filled with astonishment, the son of Kṛtavīrya departed,

1.77.50

vākyamākarṇya tu munernadītīraṃ suśobhanam |
muni patnīṃ samāhūya vṛttāntaṃ taṃ jagāda tām ||

Upon hearing the words of the sage, to the lovely riverbank. / The sage called his wife and told her the entire matter.

1.77.51

āhūya kāmadhenuṃ tau pupūjatuḥ kṣaṇena tām |
prārthayāmāsaturubhau lajjāṃ nau rakṣa dhenuke ||

Calling Kāmadhenu, they both worshipped her in an instant; / they both prayed: "O sacred cow, protect our modesty!

1.77.52

asaṅkhyātabalo rājā bhojanāya nimantritaḥ |
yathārūci bhavettasya sa sainyasya bhujiḥ śubhe ||

The king of countless forces has been invited for a meal; / O auspicious one, let there be food according to the taste of him and his army.

1.77.53

tathā kurū kṣaṇena tvaṃ no cet satyaṃ layaṃ vrajeta |
akīrtiśca bhavelloke yathecchasi tathā kurū ||

Do so in an instant; otherwise truth will meet destruction, / and there will be ill fame in the world; do as you please."

1.77.54

evaṃ samprārthitā tābhyāṃ kāmadhenurmahāpuram |
nirmāya svaprabhāveṇa nānāmandirasundaram ||

Thus supplicated by both of them, Kāmadhenu, / having created by her own power a great city beautified with various palaces,

1.77.55

nānāratnamayastambhaśobhi nānāsabhāgṛham |
nānāpuṣpalatācārū vāṭikārāmamaṇḍitam ||

It shone with pillars made of various jewels and had diverse assembly halls; / it was beautiful with various flowering creepers and adorned with gardens and parks.

1.77.56

nānādhvajapatākāḍhyaṃ nānāvāditranisvanam |
aṣṭāpadānāṃ bhāṇḍānāṃ nānā paṅktivirājitam ||

It was rich with various banners and flags and resonated with the sound of diverse musical instruments; / it was splendid with diverse rows of vessels of gold.

1.77.57

caturvidhānnasampannaṃ nānābhojanapaṅktimat |
mahātoraṇaśobhāḍhyaṃ parikhāvalayāṅkitam ||

It was provided with the four kinds of food and had rows of diverse dining places; / it was adorned with the splendour of great archways and encircled by a moat.

1.77.58

anekadāsadāsībhirvilasaccārū vedikam |
nivārayanti lokāṃśca yatra tatra sthitā narāḥ ||

It had beautiful platforms sparkling with many male and female servants; / and men stationed here and there were holding back the people [saying]:

1.77.59

puro gantuṃ na cājñā'sti jamadagnimuneriti |
pariviṣṭeṣu pātreṣu saṅkhyātīteṣu sarvataḥ ||

'There is no permission to go before the sage Jamadagni.' / When countless vessels had been served on all sides,

1.77.60

dīpaprabhābhāsureṣu nānāvyañjanaśāliṣu |
sūpapāyasapakvānnapañcāmṛtayuteṣu ca ||

shining with the radiance of lamps, abounding in diverse condiments, / and furnished with soups, pāyasa, cooked dishes, and pañcāmṛta,

1.77.61

sakhādyalehyacoṣyādi peyapaṅktivirājiṣu |
sāmudrapakvanimbāmrāmṛta bilvādiśāliṣu |
candrailāhiṅgumārīca kvathikāpātraśāliṣu ||

splendid with rows of chewable, lickable, suckable, and drinkable items, / abounding in sea-salt, cooked nimba, mango, nectar, bilva, and the like, / and abounding in cups of decoctions with camphor, cardamom, asafoetida, and black pepper—

1.77.62

siddheṣu pātreṣu munistadā'sāvākārayacchiṣyagaṇaṃ tadānīm |
śrīkāmadhenoḥ paripūrṇa toṣād bhoktuṃ sasainyaṃ kṛtavīryaputram ||

when the vessels were ready, that sage then summoned the host of his disciples / to dine, along with his army, the son of Kṛtavīrya, through the complete satisfaction of the glorious Kāmadhenu.

1.77.62.c1

iti śrīgaṇeśapurāṇe upāsanākhaṇḍe jamadagnimahimāvarṇanaṃ nāma saptasaptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ ||

Thus ends the seventy-seventh chapter, named 'The Description of the Greatness of Jamadagni', in the Upāsanākhaṇḍa of the glorious Gaṇeśapurāṇa.

1.77.62.p2

āditaḥ ślokānāṃ samaṣṭyaṅkāḥ 3371 62 3433

Total count of verses from the beginning: 3371 [and] 62 = 3433.