Mudgalapurana 1.1: śaunakasūtasaṃvādo nāma prathamo'dhyāyaḥ

1.1.p1

śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ ||

Homage to the glorious Gaṇeśa.

1.1.1

atha śrīmanmaudgalapurāṇaprārambhaḥ |
dhyāye sthireṇa cittena gaṇeśaṃ sarvasiddhidam |
buddhiprakāśakaṃ pūrṇaṃ yogināṃ hṛdi saṃsthitam ||

Now begins the glorious Maudgalapurāṇa:
With a steady mind I meditate on Gaṇeśa, the bestower of all perfections,
the illuminator of the intellect, complete, dwelling in the hearts of yogins.

1.1.2

jitaṃ tenākhilaṃ nānābrahmavarṇanavarṇitam |
nānājagatsamūhaṃ vai gaṇeśenobhayaṃ kṛtam ||

By him all was conquered, described through various descriptions of Brahman;
indeed, the whole collection of diverse worlds was made of both [forms] by Gaṇeśa.

1.1.3

bhaktasaṃrakṣaṇārthāya nirguṇaḥ saguṇastu yaḥ |
nānāvatāravānso'pi nānābhedadharo babhau ||

He who is without attributes becomes with attributes to protect his devotees;
possessing diverse incarnations, he shone bearing diverse distinctions.

1.1.4

tasmai namo gaṇeśāya narakuñjararūpiṇe |
saguṇo nararūpo yo nirguṇo gajavaktrakaḥ ||

Homage to that Gaṇeśa, having the form of man and elephant,
who with attributes has the form of a man, and without attributes is elephant-faced.

1.1.5

namaḥ śivāya śāntāya viṣṇave prabhaviṣṇave |
sūryāya śaktaye caiva caturdhā te vibhāgine ||

Homage to peaceful Śiva, to all-powerful Viṣṇu,
and to the Sun, and to Śakti—to thee divided into four parts.

1.1.6

brahmāṇaṃ śeṣanāgaṃ ca naraṃ nārāyaṇaṃ sadā |
namāmi bhāvayukto'haṃ purāṇapuruṣaṃ param ||

Brahmā, the serpent Śeṣa, Nara, and Nārāyaṇa—
with devoted feeling I ever bow to the supreme primal person.

1.1.7

devānāṃ yogināṃ caiva maharṣīṇāṃ mahātmanām |
vrajāmi śaraṇaṃ nityaṃ purāṇajñānasiddhaye ||

To the gods, the yogins, and the great-souled maharṣis
I continually go for refuge, for the attainment of the knowledge of the purāṇas.

1.1.8

purākalpe'bhavanviprāḥ śaunakādyāḥ susādhanāḥ |
kalidoṣabhayātsarve naimiṣāraṇyamāśritāḥ ||

In a former kalpa there were brahmins, Śaunaka and others, possessing good practices;
out of fear of the faults of the Kali age, they all resorted to the Naimiṣa forest,

1.1.9

tasminkaliyugāvāsaṃ jñātvādau brahmaṇo mukhāt |
munidharmaprasiddhyarthaṃ karmajñāna prasiddhaye ||

having first learned from the mouth of Brahmā of their dwelling there during that Kali age,
for the establishment of the sages' dharma, and for the accomplishment of action and knowledge.

1.1.10

anyacca brahmaṇā proktaṃ purāṇaśravaṇaṃ sadā |
kalidoṣaharaṃ puṇyaṃ tadarthamabhavanyatāḥ ||

And something else was declared by Brahmā: that constantly hearing the purāṇas
is meritorious and destroys the faults of the Kali age; for that purpose they became restrained.

1.1.11

kasmiṃścitsamaye sūto lomaharṣaṇa āyayau |
munīnāṃ darśanārthāya purāṇajño vicakṣaṇaḥ ||

At a certain time, Sūta Lomaharṣaṇa arrived
to see the sages—he who knows the purāṇas, discerning.

1.1.12

naimiṣāraṇyaśobhāṃ ca paśyaṃstatra suvismitaḥ |
aho dhanyaṃ mahāraṇyaṃ kalidoṣavivarjitam ||

And beholding the beauty of the Naimiṣa forest, he was greatly astonished there:
"Ah, blessed is this great forest, free from the faults of the Kali age!"

1.1.13

dṛṣṭā vai munayastena suprasannānanāmbujāḥ |
nityanaimittikakarāḥ svadharmācaraṇapriyāḥ ||

Indeed, the sages were seen by him, with faces like cheerful lotuses,
performing their daily and occasional rites, fond of observing their own dharma,

1.1.14

pañcayajñaratāstatra vedādhyayanakāriṇaḥ |
brahmatejaḥsamāyuktā jvalantaḥ pāvakā iva ||

devoted there to the five sacrifices, engaged in Vedic study,
endowed with the splendour of Brahman, blazing like fires,

1.1.15

vinā'stena yathā sūryo yogino vedavedinaḥ |
tārakāḥ sarvajantūnāṃ śaunakādyā maharṣayaḥ ||

like the sun without setting, yogins, knowers of the Veda,
saviours of all creatures—the maharṣis headed by Śaunaka.

1.1.16

tatrāgatya mahābhāgaḥ sa sūto romaharṣaṇaḥ |
sāṣṭāṅgaṃ praṇataḥ pūrvaṃ paramāhlādasaṃyutaḥ ||

Arriving there, that fortunate Sūta Romaharṣaṇa
first bowed down prostrate, filled with supreme joy.

1.1.17

abhivādya munīnsarvānbhaktyā namrātmakandharaḥ |
prāñjaliḥ prayato bhūtvā provāca madhuraṃ vacaḥ ||

Having greeted all the sages with devotion, bending his neck,
with joined palms and composed mind, he spoke sweet words:

1.1.18

sūta uvāca |
vaṃśo dhanyo madīyo'dya pitarau ca kulaṃ vayaḥ |
vidyā vrataṃ tapo jñānaṃ dhanyaṃ sarvaṃ munīśvarāḥ ||

Sūta said:
"Blessed is my lineage today, my parents, family, and age;
blessed are my learning, vows, austerity, and knowledge—everything, O best of sages!

1.1.19

bhavatāṃ pādapadmaṃ ca sarvāśubhavināśanam |
kāṅkṣitaṃ yatsadā devairmayā dṛṣṭaṃ supuṇyataḥ ||

And your lotus feet, which destroy all misfortune
and are ever yearned for by the gods, have been seen by me through great merit.

1.1.20

sākṣād brahmasvarūpā vai brāhmaṇā brahmavittamāḥ |
yeṣāṃ darśanamātreṇa kṛtakṛtyāśca jantavaḥ ||

The brāhmaṇas are verily the direct form of Brahman, the foremost knowers of Brahman,
by the mere sight of whom creatures have accomplished their purpose.

1.1.20.p1

kṛtārtho'haṃ kṛtārtho'haṃ kṛtārtho'haṃ na saṃśayaḥ |
(

I have attained my goal, I have attained my goal, I have attained my goal, without doubt;
(

1.1.21

khaṃ. 1 a. 1 pāna 2) bhavatāṃ darśanenaiva mukto'haṃ bhavasāgarāt ||

Section 1, Chapter 1, Page 2) by the mere sight of you I am freed from the ocean of worldly existence."

1.1.22

iti bruvāṇaṃ sādhuṃ taṃ sūtaṃ vai romaharṣaṇam |
pratyūcurbrāhmaṇāḥ sarve bhaktiyuktaṃ tapodhanāḥ ||

1.1.23

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ |
sūta sūta mahābhāga sthīyatāṃ puṇyavardhana |
tava darśanamātreṇa santuṣṭāḥ smo vayaṃ khalu ||

The brāhmaṇas said:
"O Sūta, Sūta, most fortunate one, promoter of merit, please be seated;
by the mere sight of you we are indeed gratified."

1.1.24

ityuktastatra sūtastu munidatte śubhāsane |
samāsīno mahābuddhiḥ sāñjaliḥ sanpratāpavān ||

Thus addressed, Sūta sat down there on an auspicious seat offered by the sages,
possessing great intellect, with joined palms, full of majesty.

1.1.25

sukhāsīnaṃ ca sūtaṃ taṃ dṛṣṭvā tatra mahāmuniḥ |
bhṛgupreṣṭhaśca mukhyo'sau munīnāṃ pratyuvāca ha ||

And seeing Sūta comfortably seated there, the great sage,
the dearest of Bhṛgu's lineage and chief of the sages, spoke in reply:

1.1.26

śaunaka uvāca |
sūta sūta mahābhāga sarvajña sukhadāyaka |
ārādhitastvayā prājñaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyano mahān ||

Śaunaka said:
"O Sūta, Sūta, most fortunate one, all-knowing, giver of happiness,
by you the wise and great Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana has been propitiated,

1.1.27

nārāyaṇāvatāro yaḥ sākṣānnārāyaṇaḥ svayam |
vedasya bhāgakārī sa purāṇānāṃ vibhāgakṛt ||

he who is an incarnation of Nārāyaṇa, manifestly Nārāyaṇa himself,
the divider of the Veda and the classifier of the purāṇas.

1.1.28

tvaṃ vai tasmātpurāṇāni setihāsāni vetsi ca |
tena sarvajñatā jātā taveyaṃ puṇyavardhana ||

From him you know the purāṇas along with the Itihāsas;
by that, this omniscience of yours has arisen, O promoter of merit.

1.1.29

vayaṃ bhītāśca kālena kalikalmaṣarūpiṇā |
naimiṣāraṇyamāsthāya sthitājñaptāḥ svayambhuvā ||

Terrified by time in the form of the impurities of Kali,
we have dwelt in the Naimiṣa forest, having been instructed by the Self-born [Brahmā].

1.1.30

tatra viśrāntidātā vai tvaṃ prāpto'si mahādyutiḥ |
purāṇānāṃ pravaktā ca puṇyavānpuṇyavardhanaḥ ||

There you, a giver of relief, have arrived, possessing great lustre,
a speaker of the purāṇas, meritorious, and a promoter of merit.

1.1.31

yatra paurāṇikī gāthā kalistatra na tiṣṭhati |
tasmātkāruṇyabhāvena purāṇaṃ bruhi naḥ prabho ||

Where there is a recitation of the purāṇas, Kali does not remain there;
therefore, out of compassion, relate the purāṇa to us, O lord.

1.1.32

tava yaddarśanaṃ jātaṃ mahāpuṇyena sattama |
dhanyaṃ dhanyaṃ mahābhāga sākṣātsaṃśayachitsvayam ||

This sight of you has occurred through great merit, O best of the good!
Blessed, blessed are you, most fortunate one, who directly dispel doubts yourself.

1.1.33

chedena saṃśayānāṃ vai satāṃ tvaṃ romaharṣaṇam |
karoṣi tena te nāma romaharṣaṇa ityaho ||

By severing the doubts of the virtuous, you indeed cause the thrilling of their hair;
therefore your name is Romaharṣaṇa, ah!

1.1.34

iti pṛṣṭo mahātmā sa śaunakena maharṣiṇā |
saṃhṛṣṭaḥ sannuvācedaṃ vacanaṃ dharmasaṃskṛtam ||

1.1.35

sūta uvāca |
adyā'haṃ kṛtakṛtyo vai kṛto'nugrahakāriṇā |
sakalaṃ kathayiṣyāmi vyāsena kathitaṃ ca yat ||

Sūta said:
"Today I have indeed accomplished my purpose, favoured by you, the grantor of grace;
I shall tell everything, exactly as spoken by Vyāsa."

1.1.36

ityuktvā kathayāmāsa purāṇāni sa kṛtsnaśaḥ |
nānākhyānavibhaktāni nānādharmayutāni ca ||

Having said this, he related the purāṇas in their entirety,
divided into various narratives and endowed with diverse duties,

1.1.37

sarvārthasādhanānyeva duḥkhanāśakarāṇi ca |
brahmabhūtapradānyeva nānāmatayutāni ca ||

which accomplish all aims, destroy sorrow,
bestow the state of Brahman, and contain diverse doctrines,

1.1.38

purāṇopapurāṇāni setihāsāni bhāgaśaḥ |
dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāṃ dātṛtvātpuṇyadāni ca ||

the purāṇas and upapurāṇas along with the Itihāsas, part by part,
which bestow merit because they grant dharma, wealth, pleasure, and liberation.

1.1.39

śrutvā śrutvā munīndrāste harṣayuktā babhūvire |
nityaṃ pramuditāstena prītāḥ sampūrṇabhāvataḥ ||

Having heard and heard them, those chief sages became filled with joy,
ever delighted by it and satisfied with complete affection.

1.1.40

yugasyotkramaṇaṃ tasya cakruste munayo'khilāḥ ||

All those sages passed the span of that age.

1.1.41

purāṇeṣu ca sarveṣu setihāseṣu sarvataḥ |
nānābhedamatādīni śrutvā bhrāntā munīśvarāḥ ||

Yet having heard the diverse viewpoints and doctrines everywhere
in all the purāṇas and along with the Itihāsas, the lords of sages became bewildered.

1.1.42

niścayaṃ nādhigacchanti paraṃ kiṃ sarvasammatam |
tadarthaṃ munivaryastaṃ paryapṛcchatsa śaunakaḥ ||

They could not reach a conclusion as to what supreme truth is agreed upon by all;
for that reason, that Śaunaka, best of sages, questioned him:

1.1.43

śaunaka uvāca |
bho bho sūta mahābhāga śṛṇu me vacanaṃ laghu |
purāṇāni ca saṃśrutya bhrāntāḥ smo vai mahādyute ||

Śaunaka said:
"O Sūta, most fortunate one, hear my brief words;
having heard the purāṇas, we are indeed confused, O greatly radiant one!

1.1.44

idaṃ paramidaṃ neti tvayā sarvatra varṇitam |
bhinnaṃ bhinnaṃ mahābuddhe tena no niścayaḥ katham ||

'This is supreme, this is not'—thus has been described by you everywhere;
it is different and varied, O highly intelligent one, so how can we have certainty?

1.1.45

kutrāpi śaṅkaraḥ śreṣṭhaḥ kutra viṣṇustathā raviḥ |
śaktiścaiva gaṇeśaśca virājaḥ kutra rūpakam ||

In some places Śaṅkara is the highest, in others Viṣṇu, and likewise the Sun,
and Śakti, and Gaṇeśa; and in other places the form is Virāj."

1.1.46

kutra brahma ca yogaśca jñānaṃ karma ca kutra vai |
ātmā prāṇo'nnamityuktaṃ mano vai parataḥ param ||

Where [is] Brahman and yoga, and where indeed [are] knowledge and ritual action? / The Self, breath, [and] food are spoken of, [and] the mind indeed higher than the highest.

1.1.46.p1

kutra buddhirmahābhāga sāṅkhyaṃ svānanda eva ca |
(

Where [is] intellect, O highly fortunate one, Sāṅkhya, and Svānanda itself? / (

1.1.47

khaṃ. 1 a. 2 pāna 3) ityādimatabhedena niścayo naiva jāyate ||

Section 1, Chapter 2, Page 3) By such differences of opinion, no certainty whatsoever arises.

1.1.48

atastvaṃ kṛpayā brūhi vedaśāstrārtha sammatam |
sarveṣāṃ mānyamekaṃ ca sarvasaṃśayanāśanam ||

Therefore, please tell, in accordance with the meaning of the Vedas and treatises, / that which is single, revered by all, and the destroyer of all doubts.

1.1.49

iti pṛṣṭo mahātejāḥ śiṣyo vyāsasya sattamaḥ |
ekaṃ śrutismṛtīnāṃ yat sāraṃ kathitumārabhat ||

1.1.50

sūta uvāca |
śṛṇudhvaṃ munayaḥ sarve sāraṃ mudgalabhāṣitam |
sarvaśrutismṛtīnāṃ ca sarvamānyaṃ viśeṣataḥ ||

Sūta said: / Listen, all you sages, to the essence spoken by Mudgala, / [the essence] of all the Vedas and traditions, and especially revered by all.

1.1.51

purā dakṣādhvare jātaṃ yajñavidhvaṃsanaṃ mahat |
rudreṇāgatya sahasā kṛto vighno mahattaraḥ ||

Formerly, at the sacrificial session of Dakṣa, a great destruction of the sacrifice took place; / Rudra, having arrived suddenly, caused a very great obstacle.

1.1.52

devāḥ parājitāḥ sarve rudraiḥ paramadāruṇaiḥ |
dakṣamastakasañchedo vīrabhadreṇa vai kṛtaḥ ||

All the gods were defeated by the exceedingly terrible Rudras; / indeed, the cutting off of Dakṣa's head was done by Vīrabhadra.

1.1.53

brahmaṇāgatya tatrāsau sāntvito bahuloktibhiḥ |
śaṅkaro jīvayāmāsa dakṣaṃ yogena tattvataḥ ||

Having arrived there, he was consoled by Brahmā with many words; / Śaṅkara brought Dakṣa back to life according to reality through yoga.

1.1.54

yajñavidhvaṃsaśokārto dakṣaḥ śāpena mohitaḥ |
ajñānāvaraṇenāpi na kiñcinniścayaṃ yayau ||

Afflicted with grief by the destruction of the sacrifice, bewildered by the curse, / [and] enveloped by ignorance, Dakṣa reached no certainty whatsoever.

1.1.55

tatrājagāma bhagavān sākṣātsūrya ivoditaḥ |
vedaśāstrārthatattvajño yogīndro mudgalo muniḥ ||

There arrived the blessed sage Mudgala, like the sun itself arisen, / who knows the true meaning of the Vedas and treatises, a lord among yogins,

1.1.56

gaṇeśabhaktapravaraḥ sarvavandyo mahāyaśāḥ |
tapasāṃ karmaṇāṃ sākṣānnidhireṣa sanātanaḥ ||

foremost among devotees of Gaṇeśa, worthy of worship by all, of great renown, / the visible eternal treasury of austerities and actions.

1.1.57

taṃ dṛṣṭvotthāya dakṣo'sau praṇanāma mahāmunim |
āsanādyaiḥ susampūjya vaktuṃ samupacakrame ||

Seeing him, Dakṣa rose and bowed to the great sage; / having properly honored him with a seat and other offerings, he began to speak.

1.1.58

dakṣa uvāca |
bho bho munīndra vandyastvamāṅgirasa mahādyute |
yajñavidhvaṃsaśokārtaṃ māṃ pālaya jaḍīkṛtam ||

Dakṣa said: / Hail, O lord of sages, worthy of honor, descendant of Aṅgiras, of great splendor! / Protect me, who am numbed and afflicted with grief by the destruction of the sacrifice.

1.1.59

mudgala uvāca |
mā cintāṃ kuru bho dakṣa prajāpālendrasattama |
vighnarājaṃ smara tvaṃ vai tena sarvaṃ na durlabham ||

Mudgala said: / Do not worry, O Dakṣa, best among the lords of the protectors of creatures! / Remember Vighnarāja, for by him nothing is hard to obtain.

1.1.59.c1

oṃ tatsaditi śrīmadāntye purāṇopaniṣadi śrīmanmaudgale mahāpurāṇe prathame khaṇḍe vakratuṇḍacarite śaunakasūtasaṃvādo nāma prathamo'dhyāyaḥ ||

Om tat sat. Thus ends the first chapter, named 'The Dialogue between Śaunaka and Sūta,' in the story of Vakratuṇḍa, in the first section of the glorious Mudgalapurāṇa, the late Purāṇic Upaniṣad.