Mudgalapurana 1.5: pārvatīpraśnavicāro nāma pañcamo'dhyāyaḥ

1.5.1

śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ |
śaunaka uvāca |
śrutaṃ dakṣasya caritaṃ yajñadhvaṃsādikaṃ mahat |
mudgalasya ca dakṣasya saṃvādaṃ kathayasva bhoḥ ||

Salutations to glorious Gaṇeśa. / Śaunaka said: / The great account of Dakṣa, the destruction of the sacrifice, and so forth, has been heard. / O [sir], relate the conversation between Mudgala and Dakṣa.

1.5.2

sūta uvāca |
śṛṇu śaunaka saṃvādaṃ dakṣamudgalasambhavam |
brahmabhūyakaraṃ pūrṇaṃ bhāvena ca śrutaṃ hṛdi ||

Sūta said: / Hear, O Śaunaka, the dialogue arising between Dakṣa and Mudgala, / which brings about absorption into Brahman when heard completely with devotion in the heart.

1.5.3

dakṣapraśnaṃ paraṃ dhṛtvā mudgalo gaṇapapriyaḥ |
taṃ pratyuvāca bhāvena maharṣiryogināṃ varaḥ ||

Taking up the supreme question of Dakṣa, Mudgala, dear to Gaṇapa, / that great sage, the foremost of yogins, answered him with devotion.

1.5.4

mudgala uvāca |
sarveṣāṃ gaṇapo mātā pitā caiva na saṃśayaḥ |
tena sarvādipūjyo'yaṃ sarvapūjyaḥ sa devarāṭ ||

Mudgala said: / Gaṇapa is without doubt the mother and father of all; / therefore he is to be worshiped before all, he is worshiped by all, the king of gods.

1.5.5

jyeṣṭharājeti yadvākyaṃ vedena pratipāditam |
jyeṣṭhaṃ bhāvācca tasyāpi jñātavyaṃ sarvasammatam ||

As for the word 'Jyeṣṭharāja' taught by the Veda, / on account of his nature being the eldest, he is to be known as accepted by all.

1.5.6

tasya sarve kalāṃśā vai kalāṃśāṃśāśca kecana |
na kalā tasya sampūrṇā jagatyāṃ kutra dṛśyate ||

All are indeed fractions of his portions, and some are fractions of portions of his portions; / his complete portion is nowhere to be seen in the world.

1.5.7

vināyako nāma tena jāto'sau bhagavān khalu |
viśeṣeṇa ca sarveṣāṃ nāyako'yaṃ gaṇādhipaḥ ||

Indeed, that Blessed One is therefore named Vināyaka; / moreover, this Gaṇādhipa is preeminently the leader of all.

1.5.8

vigato nāyako yasya svecchācārī vināyakaḥ |
svānandalokavāsī ca svasukhena prabhāvataḥ ||

He whose leader is gone (absent), acting according to his own will, is Vināyaka, / dwelling in the realm of Svānanda by his own joy, through his power.

1.5.9

brahmaviṣṇuśivādyaiśca vedairyogibhireva ca |
sarvaiḥ sampūjito devo dharmakāmārthamuktaye ||

By Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and others, by the Vedas, and indeed by yogins— / by all is this god thoroughly worshiped for the attainment of dharma, desire, wealth, and liberation.

1.5.10

ahaṃ brahmeti māhātmyād garvo bhavati śāśvataḥ |
śivādīnāṃ yadādhārādidaṃ sarvaṃ pravartate ||

From the majesty of [thinking] 'I am Brahman,' an enduring pride arises / in Śiva and the others, upon whom, as substrate, all this proceeds.

1.5.11

tadā madaharo'yaṃ vai teṣāṃ jñānārthasiddhaye |
vighnakartā mahārājaḥ svayaṃ bhavati vighnapaḥ ||

Then, to accomplish knowledge for them, he indeed becomes the destroyer of their pride; / the great king himself, the lord of obstacles, becomes the creator of obstacles.

1.5.12

padabhraṣṭāḥ kṛtāstena sarve devādayo dvijāḥ |
kimādhāramidaṃ sarvaṃ vicinvanti samādhinā ||

All the gods and others were stripped of their station by him, O twice-born; / through absorption, they inquire: 'Upon what substrate does all this rest?'

1.5.13

tena paśyanti yogena cetasaḥ pañcavṛttibhiḥ |
tāsāṃ prakāśako'yaṃ vai cintāmaṇiriti smṛtaḥ ||

Through that yoga, they perceive with the five modifications of the mind; / he who illuminates them is indeed traditionally called Cintāmaṇi.

1.5.14

vedaiḥ sampāditaṃ jñātvā śaraṇaṃ taṃ vrajanti te |
tato vighnaharo jātasteṣāṃ sarvārthadaḥ smṛtaḥ ||

Knowing him to be established by the Vedas, they take refuge in him; / then, having become the remover of obstacles, he is remembered as the granter of all their aims.

1.5.15

sarvasattātmako'yaṃ vai vighnarājaḥ prakīrtitaḥ |
ata eva gaṇeśāddhi paraṃ kicinna vidyate ||

He is indeed proclaimed as Vighnarāja, the essence of all reality; / for this very reason, there is nothing higher than Gaṇeśa.

1.5.16

savighnastvaṃ prajāto'si tameva śaraṇaṃ vraja |
cintāmaṇiṃ vighnaharaṃ gaṇeśaṃ ca vināyakam ||

You have become beset with obstacles; take refuge in him alone— / Cintāmaṇi, the remover of obstacles, Gaṇeśa, and Vināyaka.

1.5.17

sūta uvāca |
prajāpatiriti śrutvā dakṣo hṛṣṭamanāḥ punaḥ |
papraccha vinayenaiva kathāṃ pāpapraṇāśinīm ||

Sūta said: / Hearing this, Prajāpati Dakṣa, gladdened in mind, / once more asked with humility for the tale that destroys sins.

1.5.18

dakṣa uvāca |
ko'yaṃ svānandavāsī vai kathaṃ jñeyo bhavenmayā |
vada tatra vibho mārgaṃ tena taṃ satataṃ bhaje ||

Dakṣa said: / Who is this dweller in Svānanda? How may he be known by me? / Tell me the path to him, O lord, so that I may constantly worship him.

1.5.19

mudgala uvāca |
atra te kathayiṣyāmi itihāsaṃ purātanam |
pārvatīśivasaṃvādaṃ yathā jātaṃ śṛṇuṣva bhoḥ ||

Mudgala said: / On this matter I will tell you an ancient history, / the dialogue between Pārvatī and Śiva just as it occurred; listen, O [Dakṣa]!

1.5.20

kailāse girivarye tu sukhāsīnaṃ maheśvaram |
pārvatī praṇatā bhūtvā pṛcchati sma mudāyutā ||

To Maheśvara, seated comfortably on Kailāsa, the excellent mountain, / Pārvatī, having bowed, full of joy, inquired:

1.5.21

pārvatyuvāca |
śiva tvaṃ sarvadevānāṃ nāgānāṃ rakṣasāṃ tathā |
mānavānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ pūjyaḥ svāmī na saṃśayaḥ ||

Pārvatī said: / O Śiva, you are the worshipful master of all gods, / nāgas, rakṣasas, and all human beings; of this there is no doubt.

1.5.22

tebhyaḥ padapradātā tvaṃ sarvādhīśaḥ purātanaḥ |
māyāvikārahīnaśca śivastena prakīrtitaḥ ||

You are the giver of station to them, the ancient ruler of all, / free from the transformations of illusion; therefore you are celebrated as Śiva (the Auspicious).

1.5.23

tvaṃ kiṃ samādhinā deva dhyāyase māṃ vada prabho |
tvattaḥ parataraṃ kiñcinna dṛṣṭaṃ naiva saṃśrutam ||

O Lord, tell me: whom do you meditate upon with absorption, O Master? / Nothing higher than you has been seen or even heard of.

1.5.24

iti pṛṣṭo mahādevastāṃ pratyūce ca sādaram |
sāraṃ vedādimānyaṃ ca brahmabhūyakaraṃ param ||

1.5.24.p1

śrīmahādeva uvāca |
śṛṇu priye pravakṣyāmi yaṃ dhyāyāmi divāniśam |
(

1.5.25

khaṃ. 1 a. 5 pāna 14) gaṇeśaṃ hṛdi saṃsthaṃ me svānandāvāsinaṃ param ||

Section 1, Chapter 5, Page 14) the supreme Gaṇeśa who resides in my heart, the dweller in Svānanda.

1.5.26

sākāraṃ ca nirākāraṃ tasmindevi na vidyate |
manovāṇīvihīnaṃ na manovāṇīmayaṃ na vai ||

Neither possessing form nor formless is he, O goddess; / neither destitute of mind and speech, nor composed of mind and speech.

1.5.27

śivasya vacanaṃ śrutvā pārvatī premasaṃyutā |
uvāca madhuraṃ vākyaṃ vākyajñā bhāvapūrvakam ||

Hearing Śiva's words, Pārvatī, filled with love, / eloquent, spoke these sweet words with devotion:

1.5.28

pārvatyuvāca |
ko'sau gaṇeśanāmā vai kathaṃ sa hṛdi tiṣṭhati |
svānandavasatiḥ kā ca yatra tiṣṭhati sa prabhuḥ ||

Pārvatī said: / Who is he whose name is Gaṇeśa? How does he abide in the heart? / And what is that abode of Svānanda where that Lord resides?

1.5.29

sākāro na nirākāro kathaṃ sa jñāyate janaiḥ |
manovāṇīmayo naiva hīnastābhyāṃ na ca kvacit ||

He has neither form nor is formless; how is he known by people? / He is neither composed of mind and speech, nor ever devoid of both.

1.5.30

tasya dhyānaṃ maheśāpi kartuṃ naiva praśakyate |
dhyāyase kena mārgeṇa bhava me kathaya prabho ||

Even you, O Maheśa, are unable to practice meditation upon him; / by what path do you meditate upon him, O Lord of existence? Tell me, O Master!

1.5.31

ahaṃ dāsī tvadīyā vai śiṣyabhāvena saṃsthitā |
kathayasva mahādeva dhyānaṃ gāṇeśakaṃ mama ||

I am indeed your handmaiden, situated with the disposition of a disciple; / tell me, O Mahādeva, the meditation on Gaṇeśa,

1.5.32

tamahaṃ sādhayiṣyāmi sākṣātkāreṇa vai yathā |
kṛtakṛtyā bhaviṣyāmi prasādātte na saṃśayaḥ ||

so that I may accomplish it by direct perception; / I shall have accomplished my purpose by your grace, of this there is no doubt.

1.5.33

mudgala uvāca |
iti pṛṣṭo mahādevo devyā bhaktyādareṇa ca |
pātraṃ gaṇeśamārgasya dṛṣṭvā premayuto'bravīt ||

Mudgala said: / Being thus questioned by the Goddess with devotion and respect, / seeing her as a worthy recipient of Gaṇeśa's path, Mahādeva spoke with love:

1.5.34

tatte'haṃ śṛṇu vakṣyāmi guhyād guhyatamaṃ mahat |
rahasyaṃ vedaśāstrāṇāṃ yasmātparataraṃ na ca ||

'Hear, I shall tell you that great secret of secrets, / the mystery of the Vedas and treatises, than which nothing is higher.'

1.5.35

dakṣa uvāca |
tava vākyāmṛtenā'haṃ prīto mudgala sāmpratam |
umāmaheśasaṃvādaṃ yogīndra kathayasva me ||

Dakṣa said: / I am delighted now by the nectar of your words, O Mudgala; / O foremost of yogins, relate to me the dialogue between Umā and Maheśa.

1.5.36

sūta uvāca |
dakṣasya bhāvayuktaṃ tadvacanaṃ mudgalena vai |
śrutaṃ tena susantuṣṭo vaktuṃ samupacakrame ||

Sūta said: / That speech of Dakṣa, imbued with devotion, / was heard by Mudgala; highly pleased thereby, he began to speak.

1.5.37

mudgala uvāca |
śambhuḥ smṛtvā gaṇeśānaṃ hṛdi dhyātvā mahāyaśāḥ |
pratyuvāca mahādevīṃ gāṇapatyaḥ pratāpavān ||

Mudgala said:
Having remembered the Lord of Gaṇas and meditated [upon him] in his heart, the illustrious Sambhu,
[that] mighty devotee of Gaṇeśa, replied to the great goddess:

1.5.38

śrīśiva uvāca |
sarva māyāmayaṃ viddhi jāyate yacca cetasā |
cittapraveśahīnaṃ ca māyātītaṃ nigadyate ||

The auspicious Śiva said:
Know that everything is made of māyā, whatever arises through the mind;
and that which is devoid of the entrance of the mind is declared to be beyond māyā.

1.5.39

racitaṃ dvividhaṃ yena sa eva gaṇanāyakaḥ |
svasaṃvedaṃ mahaḥ proktaṃ vedayettadviśeṣataḥ ||

By whom this two-fold [reality] was fashioned, he alone is the leader of Gaṇas.
The supreme light is declared to be self-luminous; he particularly causes that to be known.

1.5.40

tatraiva dṛśyate devo yogibhiryāgapāragaiḥ |
tena svānandavāsī sa kathyate vedavādibhiḥ ||

Right there the god is seen by yogins who have crossed beyond sacrificial action;
therefore he is described by teachers of the Veda as dwelling in Svānanda.

1.5.41

cittasya pañcabhūmīnāṃ prakāśanakaraḥ smṛtaḥ |
cintāmaṇiriti khyāto hṛdi santiṣṭhati prabhuḥ ||

He is remembered as the illuminator of the five stages of the mind;
known as Cintāmaṇi, the Lord abides in the heart.

1.5.42

samūhe gaṇadhātuśca teṣāṃ svāmī gaṇeśvaraḥ |
abhedayogamārgeṇa sadā dhyātuṃ sa śakyate ||

The verbal root *gaṇ* denotes an assembly, and their lord is Gaṇeśvara;
he can always be meditated upon by the path of non-dual yoga.

1.5.43

mudgala uvāca |
śrutvā śivavaco ramyaṃ pārvatī vinayānvitā |
cakitā pratyuvācedaṃ vacanaṃ hitakārakam ||

Mudgala said:
Having heard Śiva’s charming words, Pārvatī, filled with modesty
and astonished, replied with these beneficial words:

1.5.44

pārvatyuvāca |
bhagavankathitaṃ kūṭavacanaṃ yogabhāvitam |
na buddhaṃ tanmayā svāmiṃstasmācca sulabhaṃ vada ||

Pārvatī said:
O Lord, an enigmatic word filled with yoga has been spoken;
it was not understood by me, O master; therefore, speak that which is easily comprehended.

1.5.45

brahma māyāmayaṃ proktaṃ kīdṛśaṃ kathaya prabho |
māyāhīnaṃ kathaṃ jñeyaṃ vistareṇa vadasva me ||

Brahman is said to consist of māyā; tell me, O Lord, what it is like;
how is that which is free from māyā to be known? Tell me in detail.

1.5.46

mudgala uvāca |
śaktipraśnaṃ ca saṃśrutya hṛṣṭaḥ śambhuḥ suyogavit |
sāśrunetraḥ saromāñco bhaktyā jāto mahāyaśāḥ ||

Mudgala said:
Hearing the question of Śakti, Sambhu, the knower of supreme yoga, was delighted;
with tearful eyes and horripilating hairs, the highly renowned [god] became filled with devotion.

1.5.47

ādimāyāṃ praśaṃsan san vaktuṃ tāmupacakrame |
yogamārgasya siddhayarthaṃ vistareṇa maheśvaraḥ ||

Praising the primal māyā, Maheśvara began to speak
to her at length for the attainment of the path of yoga:

1.5.47.c1

oṃ tatsaditi śrīmadāntye purāṇopaniṣadi śrīmanmaudgale mahāpurāṇe prathame khaṇḍe vakratuṇḍacarite pārvatīpraśnavicāro nāma pañcamo'dhyāyaḥ ||

Om tat sat. Thus ends the fifth chapter, named 'Inquiry into the Question of Pārvatī', in the first section on the deeds of Vakratuṇḍa, in the glorious final Upaniṣad of Purāṇas, the glorious Mahāpurāṇa of Mudgala.

1.5.47.p2

khaṃ. 1 a. 6 pāna 15)

Section 1, Chapter 6, page 15)