Mudgalapurana 1.51: kāśīśivavarapradānaṃ nāmaikapañcāśattamo'dhyāyaḥ

1.51.p1

śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ ||

Homage to the glorious Gaṇeśa!

1.51.1

yājñavalkya uvāca |
tataḥ śambhuḥ parāṃ cintāmāpede manasā mune |
devā hatodyamā jātāstapasā tasya dhīmataḥ ||

Yājñavalkya said: / Then Śambhu fell into deep anxiety in his mind, O sage; / the gods had been thwarted in their efforts by the austerity of that wise one.

1.51.2

svadharmapara evāyaṃ tapasā ca samanvitaḥ |
noccālituṃ bhavecchakyaḥ kiṃ bhaviṣyati vai tataḥ ||

‘He is wholly devoted to his own dharma and endowed with austerity; / he cannot be dislodged. What indeed will happen then?

1.51.3

mayā kāśī kadā labhyā dagdho'haṃ virahāgninā |
mariṣyāmi na sandeho vilalāpa maheśvaraḥ ||

When shall I regain Kāśī? I am burnt by the fire of separation; / I shall die, there is no doubt,’ lamented Maheśvara.

1.51.4

asthicarmāvaśeṣo'pi śuśoca bahudhā śivaḥ |
taṃ devā munayaḥ sarve sāntvayāmāsurādarāt ||

Though reduced to only bones and skin, Śiva grieved greatly; / all the gods and sages comforted him with reverence.

1.51.5

devarṣaya ūcuḥ |
mā kuruṣva vṛthā cintāṃ tvaṃ samartho maheśvara |
tava prasādayogena gacchāmaḥ kāśikāṃ vayam ||

The divine sages said: / ‘Do not worry in vain; you are capable, O Maheśvara! / By the power of your grace, we shall go to Kāśī.

1.51.6

nānāsiddhibhirālobhya lokāṃstatra samantataḥ |
tatpāpabhāginaṃ bhūpaṃ divodāsaṃ ca kurmahe ||

Enticing the people there on all sides with various supernatural perfections, / we shall make King Divodāsa a sharer in their sin.

1.51.7

tatastvayā viśeṣaṇa kāśī grāhyā sadāśiva |
evamuktvā yayustatra devāḥ sarve praharṣitāḥ ||

Then Kāśī is certainly to be seized by you, O Sadāśiva.’ / Having spoken thus, all the gods went there, highly delighted.

1.51.8

tatrābhavan gatāḥ kāśyāṃ nānārūpadharāḥ surāḥ |
janān sammohayāmāsuḥ siddhiṃ kṛtvā viśeṣataḥ ||

The gods went to Kāśī, assuming various forms; / they deluded the people, especially by displaying supernatural perfections.

1.51.9

dhamaśīlā janāḥ sarve teṣāṃ vākyaṃ na cakrire |
ekavarṣaṃ prayatnaṃ te kṛtvā śāntiṃ pralebhire ||

All the people, being virtuous in conduct, did not heed their words; / having made efforts for one year, [the gods] attained peace.

1.51.10

tataḥ sadāśivastatra prerayāmāsa bhairavān |
te'pi yatnaiśca vividhairna samarthā babhūvire ||

Then Sadāśiva sent the Bhairavas there; / they too, despite various efforts, were unable [to succeed].

1.51.11

evaṃ krameṇa ādityā vasavaścarṣayaḥ parāḥ |
yoginyaśca gaṇāḥ sarve hatodyogāstathā'bhavan ||

Thus, in turn, the Ādityas, the Vasus, the supreme sages, / the Yoginīs, and all the Gaṇas were similarly thwarted in their efforts.

1.51.12

tato brahmāṇamābodhya preṣayāmāsa śaṅkaraḥ |
daśāśvamedhāśca kṛtāstena śāntiṃ jagāma saḥ ||

Then Śaṅkara instructed Brahmā and sent him; / ten horse-sacrifices were performed by him, and he attained peace.

1.51.13

tatastu śaṅkarastatra dhyānaniṣṭho babhūva ha |
caraṇe vighnarājasya sarvāśāpūrake pare ||

Thereupon, Śaṅkara became absorbed in meditation there / at the feet of Vighnarāja, the supreme fulfiller of all hopes:

1.51.14

savighnaṃ māṃ gaṇādhyakṣa nirvighnaṃ kuru sarvadā |
dāso'haṃ te'vimuktasya saṃrakṣa virahātprabho ||

‘O Gaṇādhyakṣa, I am beset with obstacles; make me free of obstacles always! / I am the servant of your Avimukta; protect me from separation, O Lord!’

1.51.15

evaṃ niścitacittastu varṣamekaṃ gajānanam |
dhyānena toṣayāmāsa śaṅkaraḥ kāryasiddhaye ||

With his mind thus resolved, Śaṅkara pleased Gajānana / for one year through meditation, for the success of his task.

1.51.16

dṛṣṭvā'haṅkāranirmuktamatyanta śaṅkaraṃ prabhuḥ |
darśayāmāsa rūpaṃ svaṃ yogidhyeyamanuttamam ||

Seeing Śaṅkara completely freed from ego, the Lord
revealed his own supreme form, to be meditated upon by yogins:

1.51.17

siṃhārūḍhaṃ caturbāhuṃ pāśāṅkuśadharaṃ prabhum |
varadābhayahastaṃ ca siddhibuddhisamanvitam ||

The Lord mounted upon a lion, four-armed, holding a noose and a goad,
with hands granting boons and fearlessness, accompanied by Siddhi and Buddhi,

1.51.18

raktavarṇaṃ suśobhāḍhayaṃ gajavaktraṃ mahodaram |
vividhaiḥ śeṣanābhiṃ taṃ bhūṣaṇaiḥ suvirājitam ||

red in colour, endowed with great splendor, elephant-faced, Mahodara,
having Śeṣa around his navel, well adorned with various ornaments,

1.51.19

cintāmaṇidharaṃ pūrṇaṃ tejorāśiṃ mahāprabham |
dṛṣṭvā devaṃ mudā yuktaḥ śaṅkaraḥ praṇanāma ha ||

holding the wish-fulfilling jewel, complete, a mass of radiance, possessing great splendor.
Having seen the god, Śaṅkara, filled with joy, bowed down.

1.51.20

tatastaṃ pūjayāmāsa tuṣṭāva sa yathāmati |
devadevaṃ gaṇādhyakṣaṃ vakratuṇḍaṃ vidhānataḥ ||

Then, according to his understanding, he worshipped and praised
the God of gods, Gaṇādhyakṣa Vakratuṇḍa, according to ritual rules.

1.51.21

śiva uvāca |
namaste vakratuṇḍāya sarvasiddhipradāya ca |
nirākārāya devāya sākārāya namo namaḥ ||

Śiva said:
Obeisance to you, O Vakratuṇḍa, who grant all perfections!
Obeisance, obeisance to the formless god, and to the one endowed with form!

1.51.22

namaḥ sarvaprabodhāya namaḥ sarvapriyaṅkara |
gaṇānāṃ pataye tubhyaṃ gaṇeśāya namo namaḥ ||

Obeisance to the Awakener of all! Obeisance to the Doer of good to all!
Obeisance, obeisance to you, the Lord of gaṇas, to Gaṇeśa!

1.51.23

brahmaṇe sṛṣṭikartre te pālakāya ca viṣṇave |
saṃhartre te harāyaiva guṇeśāya namo namaḥ ||

To you as Brahmā the creator, and as Viṣṇu the protector,
and as Hara the destroyer—obeisance, obeisance to the Lord of qualities!

1.51.24

brahmākārāya vai tubhyaṃ brahmabhūtāya te namaḥ |
namaḥ prapañcarūpāya prapañcānāṃ pracālaka ||

Obeisance to you whose form is Brahman, who have become Brahman!
Obeisance to you whose form is the manifested world, O Mover of manifested worlds!

1.51.25

anantaguṇadhārāya hyanantavibhavāya te |
anantodararūpāya herambāya namo namaḥ ||

To you who bear endless qualities, possessing endless majesty,
whose form has an endless belly—obeisance, obeisance to Heramba!

1.51.26

khaṃ. 1 a. 51 pāna 116) kāraṇānāṃ parāyaiva kāraṇāya namo namaḥ |
akāraṇāya vai tubhyaṃ siṃhavāhāya te namaḥ ||

[Section 1, Chapter 51, Page 116] Obeisance, obeisance to the supreme cause of causes!
Obeisance to you who are causeless, to you mounted on a lion!

1.51.27

ahaṃ jīvasamānaśca sañjāto nātra saṃśayaḥ |
avimuktaṃ vimuktaṃ me jātaṃ deva dayānidhe ||

I have become like an ordinary soul, there is no doubt of this;
my Avimukta has become abandoned, O god, ocean of compassion!

1.51.28

atastvāṃ śaraṇaṃ yāto nirvighnaṃ kuru māṃ prabho |
dehi kāśīṃ gaṇādhyakṣa avimuktatayā ca me ||

Therefore, I have come to you for refuge; make me free from obstacles, O Lord!
Grant Kāśī to me, O Gaṇādhyakṣa, as Avimukta [never forsaken].

1.51.29

tvayā purā varo dattaḥ smaraṇena tvadagrataḥ |
sthāsyāmi putrabhāvena taṃ pālaya gajānana ||

Formerly a boon was given by you: “By your remembering [me],
I shall stand before you as a son.” Keep that [promise], O Gajānana!

1.51.30

ityuktvā pādayostasya praṇanāma maheśvaraḥ |
tamutthāpya gaṇādhyakṣa uvāca prahasanniva ||

Having spoken thus, Maheśvara bowed at his feet.
Raising him up, Gaṇādhyakṣa said, as if smiling:

1.51.31

vakratuṇḍa uvāca |
tvayā kṛtamidaṃ stotraṃ sarvasiddhikaraṃ bhavet |
paṭhate śṛṇvate caiva bhuktimuktipradaṃ śiva ||

Vakratuṇḍa said:
This hymn of praise composed by you shall bestow all perfections;
for the one who recites it and hears it, O Śiva, it shall grant enjoyment and liberation.

1.51.32

anyadyatprārthitaṃ sarvaṃ kariṣyāmi sadāśiva |
avimuktaṃ pradāsyāmi sārthakaṃ te ca sāmpratam ||

Everything else that has been requested, I shall do, O Sadāśiva;
now I shall give Avimukta back to you, making it true to its name.

1.51.33

ityuktvā nirmame dehādbrāhmaṇaṃ sarvasundaram |
sarvajñaṃ ca guṇeśasya tejoyuktaṃ prabhāviṇam ||

Having spoken thus, from his body he created an all-handsome brāhmaṇa,
omniscient, endowed with the brilliance of the Lord of qualities, and powerful.

1.51.34

ājñāpayacca taṃ devo gaccha tvaṃ śivasiddhaye |
kāśyāṃ tuṃ buddhisammohaṃ janānāṃ kuru satvaram ||

And the god commanded him: “Go for the accomplishment of Śiva's purpose;
quickly bring about the delusion of intellect among the people in Kāśī.

1.51.35

mohayitvā divodāsaṃ kāśīrājyaṃ śivāya ca |
mamājñayā dehyadya tvaṃ sarvapūjyo bhaviṣyasi ||

Having deluded Divodāsa, give the kingdom of Kāśī to Śiva
by my command; today you shall become worthy of worship by all.

1.51.36

ḍhuṇḍhiṃ jyotirvidaṃ tvāṃ tu vadiṣyanti janā dvijāḥ |
tvadīyavaṃśagāḥ sarve bhaviṣyanti na saṃśayaḥ ||

People and brāhmaṇas will call you Ḍhuṇḍhi, the knower of the stars;
all shall become followers of your lineage, without any doubt.”

1.51.37

iti śrutvā dvijo ḍhuṇḍhiṃ praṇanāma mudā yutaḥ |
yayau pradakṣiṇīkṛtya kāśīṃ sa gaṇapaṃ smaran ||

1.51.38

tato viṣṇuṃ samāhūya taṃ jagāda gajānanaḥ |
bauddharūpeṇa viṣṇo tvaṃ kāśīṃ gaccha madājñayā ||

Then, having summoned Viṣṇu, Gajānana said to him:
“O Viṣṇu, go to Kāśī in the form of the Buddha by my command.

1.51.39

dvijena ḍhuṇḍhinā sarvaṃ mohitaṃ nagaraṃ bhavet |
kuru tvamadhunā bhraṣṭaṃ mama vākyājjanārdana ||

The entire city will have been deluded by the brāhmaṇa Ḍhuṇḍhi;
now, at my word, make [the people] fall [from dharma], O Janārdana.”

1.51.40

praṇamya taṃ tadā viṣṇurgaṇeśaṃ bauddharūpadhṛk |
yayau kāśīṃ mahābhāgo vakratuṇḍaṃ hṛdi smaran ||

Then, having bowed to Gaṇeśa, the illustrious Viṣṇu, assuming the form of the Buddha,
went to Kāśī, remembering Vakratuṇḍa in his heart.

1.51.41

tau yathā gaṇarājena kathitaṃ cakratustathā |
mohayuktaṃ punarbhraṣṭaṃ nagaraṃ sarvamañjasā ||

The two did just as they were told by the King of gaṇas:
quickly, the entire city was filled with delusion and fallen [from righteousness].

1.51.42

anyacchṛṇu caritraṃ tvaṃ viśvāmitra tapodhana |
kāśīdhyānayutā tatra saṃsthitā gaṇapasya tu ||

Hear another deed, O Viśvāmitra, rich in asceticism!
Kāśī remained there, engaged in meditation on Gaṇapa.

1.51.43

sahasraṃ tatra varṣāṇāṃ gatamekaṃ mahāmune |
tasyāstapaḥprabhāveṇa santuṣṭo'bhūdgajānanaḥ ||

One thousand years passed there, O great sage;
Gajānana became pleased by the power of her asceticism.

1.51.44

varaṃ dātuṃ samāyātaḥ kāśyai mūrtidharaḥ prabhuḥ |
siṃhārūḍhaḥ prasannātmā nānābhūṣaṇabhūṣitaḥ ||

The Lord came to Kāśī in bodily form to grant a boon,
mounted upon a lion, cheerful in spirit, adorned with various ornaments.

1.51.45

taṃ dṛṣṭvā sahasotthāya kāśī paramapāvanī |
pādayoḥ praṇanāmātha karṣitā vihvalā bhṛśam ||

Seeing him, supremely pure Kāśī stood up at once
and bowed down at his feet, greatly emaciated and agitated.

1.51.46

punarutthāya taṃ devaṃ pūjayāmāsa bhaktitaḥ |
tuṣṭāva susthirā bhūtvā nibaddhakarasampuṭā ||

Rising again, she worshipped the god with devotion;
becoming firmly composed with folded hands, she praised [him].

1.51.47

kāśyuvāca |
namaste gaṇanāthāya namaste'nantarūpiṇe |
namaste sarvadātrai vai māyādhārāya te namaḥ ||

Kāśī said:
Obeisance to you, Lord of the gaṇas! Obeisance to you whose forms are endless!
Obeisance to you who give all things, obeisance to you, the support of māyā!

1.51.48

gajavaktradharāyaiva śūrpakarṇāya te namaḥ |
sarvabhūṣāya vai tubhyaṃ vakratuṇḍa namo'stu te ||

To the bearer of the elephant face, having winnowing-basket ears, obeisance to you!
To you who are adorned with everything, O Vakratuṇḍa, let there be obeisance to you!

1.51.49

nirākārāya nityāya nirguṇāya guṇātmane |
vedavedyāya satataṃ brahmaṇe te namo namaḥ ||

To the formless, the eternal, the one without attributes, the essence of attributes,
to the Brahman always to be known through the Vedas, obeisance, obeisance to you!

1.51.50

brahmaṇāṃ brahmadātre ca siṃhārūḍhāya te namaḥ |
siddhibuddhipate tubhyaṃ namaḥ sarvābhayaṅkara ||

To the giver of Brahmanhood to brāhmaṇas, to the one mounted on a lion, obeisance to you!
O Lord of Siddhi and Buddhi, obeisance to you who grant fearlessness to all!

1.51.51

anāthāya ca nāthāya sarveṣāṃ pālakāya ca |
bhaktebhyaḥ sarvadātre te vighnahartre namo'stu te ||

To the Lord of the lordless, and to the protector of all,
to you who grant everything to devotees, the remover of obstacles, obeisance to you!

1.51.52

khaṃ. 1 a. 52 pāna 117) vighnakartre hyabhaktānāṃ bhuktimuktipradāya ca |
yogināṃ hṛdi saṃsthāya yogagamyāya te namaḥ ||

[Section 1, Chapter 52, Page 117] To the creator of obstacles for non-devotees, the giver of enjoyment and liberation,
to you who dwell in the hearts of yogins, accessible through yoga, obeisance to you!

1.51.53

manovāṇīvihīnāya śāntirūpāya te namaḥ |
śāntebhyaḥ śāntidātre ca gaṇeśāya namo namaḥ ||

To you who are beyond mind and speech, whose nature is peace, obeisance to you!
To the giver of peace to the peaceful, to Gaṇeśa, obeisance, obeisance!

1.51.54

kiṃ staumi tvāṃ gaṇādhyakṣa yatra vedāḥ saśāstrakāḥ |
śāntiṃ prāptā mahābhāgā atastvāṃ praṇamāmi vai ||

How can I praise you, O Gaṇādhyakṣa, where even the Vedas along with the treatises
have come to silence, O illustrious one? Therefore I simply bow down to you!

1.51.55

rakṣa rakṣa ca dāsīṃ te viraheṇa prapīḍitām |
avimuktā śivenaivaṃ nāma vyarthaṃ babhūva me ||

Protect, protect your servant-maid afflicted by separation!
Being thus forsaken by Śiva, my name “Avimuktā” [Never Forsaken] has become meaningless.

1.51.56

śivahīnā kṛtā deva daivaṃ tu paramādbhutam |
ataste śaraṇaṃ prāptā śaṅkaraṃ darśayasva mām ||

I have been made bereft of Śiva, O god; destiny is indeed most wondrous!
Therefore I have approached you for refuge; reveal Śaṅkara to me!

1.51.57

ityuktvā patitā tasya pādayugme mahāmune |
tāmutthāpya gaṇādhīśo jagau madhurayā girā ||

Having spoken thus, she fell at his two feet, O great sage.
Raising her up, Gaṇādhīśa spoke in a sweet voice:

1.51.58

gaṇeśa uvāca |
mā śokaṃ kuru kalyāṇi śaṅkaraṃ darśayāmi te |
avimuktamidaṃ nāma sārthakaṃ prabhaviṣyati ||

Gaṇeśa said:
Do not grieve, O auspicious one; I shall show Śaṅkara to you.
This name “Avimukta” shall become meaningful and effective.

1.51.59

tvayā kṛtamidaṃ stotraṃ viyogaharaṇaṃ bhavet |
yaḥ paṭhiṣyati bhaktyā ca śroṣyate tasya sundari ||

This hymn of praise composed by you shall remove separation
for whoever recites it with devotion or listens to it, O beautiful one.

1.51.60

yaṃ yamicchati bhāvena taṃ taṃ dāsyāmi sarvagaḥ |
brahmabhūyakaraṃ stotraṃ bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ ||

Whatever one desires with proper feeling, all that I, being omnipresent, shall give;
this hymn of praise will bring about unity with Brahman, there is no doubt.

1.51.61

ityuktvā gaṇanāthaśca tatraivāntaradhīyata |
tameva sāpi dhyāyantī sthitā kālapratīkṣikā ||

Having spoken thus, the Lord of gaṇas vanished right there.
And she too, meditating upon him alone, remained awaiting the time.

1.51.61.c1

oṃ tatsaditi śrīmadāntye purāṇopaniṣadi śrīmanmaudgale mahāpurāṇe prathame khaṇḍe vakratuṇḍacarite kāśīśivavarapradānaṃ nāmaikapañcāśattamo'dhyāyaḥ ||

Om Tat Sat. Thus ends the fifty-first chapter, named 'The Bestowal of Boons by Śiva in Kāśī', in the deed of Vakratuṇḍa, in the first section of the glorious Mudgalapurāṇa, an Upaniṣad of the Purāṇas.