Mudgalapurana 4.1: caturthītapovarṇanaṃ nāma prathamo'dhyāyaḥ

4.1.p1

śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ ||

Homage to the glorious Gaṇeśa.

4.1.1

śaunaka uvāca |
tvayā sūta mahāprājña mahodaracaritrakam |
kathitaṃ śāntidaṃ mohanāśakaṃ saṃśrutaṃ mayā ||

Śaunaka said:
O Sūta, of great wisdom! The account of Mahodara, which grants peace
and destroys delusion, was narrated by you and heard by me.

4.1.2

tathā tṛptiṃ na yāmyeva pāyaṃ pāyaṃ sudhāmiva |
nānena sadṛśaṃ kiñcicchāntidaṃ vidyate dvija ||

Even so, I do not reach satiety, drinking it again and again like nectar.
There is nothing equal to this that grants peace, O twice-born.

4.1.3

ato gajānanasyāpi caritraṃ vada vistarāt |
sarvajñastvaṃ mahābhāga mato'smābhirna saṃśayaḥ ||

Therefore, tell also the life of Gajānana in detail.
You are all-knowing, O fortunate one; so it is considered by us without doubt.

4.1.4

mudgalasya ca dakṣasya saṃvādaṃ vada mānada |
kiṃ pṛṣṭaṃ brahmaputreṇa dakṣeṇāgre subuddhinā ||

Tell the dialogue between Mudgala and Dakṣa, O honor-giver.
What was asked next by Dakṣa, the wise son of Brahmā?

4.1.5

sūta uvāca |
śṛṇu bhārgava viprendra mahājñānakaraṃ prabho |
gajānanasya māhātmyaṃ kathayāmi yathā śrutam ||

Sūta said:
Listen, O Bhārgava, best of Brahmins, which brings great knowledge, O lord!
I shall tell the majesty of Gajānana as it was heard [by me].

4.1.6

śrutvā mahodarākhyānaṃ nānākhyānasamanvitam |
mohanāśakaraṃ dakṣo harṣito hyabhavan mune ||

Having heard the account of Mahodara, accompanied by various tales
and destroying delusion, Dakṣa became joyful indeed, O sage.

4.1.7

mudgalaṃ punarapyāha yogīndraṃ vedapāragam |
vinayena samāyukto gaṇeśajñānalālasaḥ ||

Endowed with modesty and eager for knowledge of Gaṇeśa,
he spoke again to Mudgala, the lord of yogins who has crossed to the other shore of the Vedas.

4.1.8

dakṣa uvāca |
mahodarasya māhātmyaṃ śrutaṃ bhaktiyutena bhoḥ |
tenā''nandasamāyuktaḥ kṛto'haṃ yoginā tvayā ||

Dakṣa said:
The majesty of Mahodara has been heard by me filled with devotion, sir;
by it, I have been filled with bliss by you, the yogin.

4.1.9

adhunā vada vipreśa gajānanacaritrakam |
kīdṛśo'vataraddevaḥ kīdṛśaṃ brahma tatra ca ||

Now tell the life of Gajānana, O lord of Brahmins!
What was the god like who descended, and what was Brahman there?

4.1.10

kimarthaṃ dehadhārī sa babhūva munisattama |
kiṃ karmā kiṃ guṇajñaśca vada sarvaṃ mahāmate ||

For what purpose did he take on a body, O best of sages?
What were his deeds, and what qualities did he know? Tell all, O great-minded one!

4.1.11

pūrvapuṇyaprabhāveṇa saṅgatiste prajāyate |
dhanyo'haṃ sarvabhāvena śṛṇomi ca kathāṃ śubhām ||

By the power of past merits my association with you has come about.
I am blessed in every way, and I listen to the auspicious story.

4.1.12

sūta uvāca |
dakṣeṇaivaṃ mahāyogī sa pṛṣṭo buddhiśālinā |
taṃ pratyuvāca bhāvajño gāṇapatyaparāyaṇaḥ ||

Sūta said:
Thus questioned by the intelligent Dakṣa, the great yogin,
who understands inner feelings and is devoted to Gaṇapati, replied to him.

4.1.13

mudgala uvāca |
śṛṇu dakṣa mahābhāga dhanyo'syatra na saṃśayaḥ |
kathāṃ vardhayasi prājña gāṇeśīṃ yogadāṃ parām ||

Mudgala said:
Listen, O highly fortunate Dakṣa! You are blessed in this, no doubt,
since you foster the narrative pertaining to Gaṇeśa, the supreme granter of yoga, O wise one.

4.1.14

tava bhāvena santuṣṭo vadāmi sakalaṃ prabho |
gajānanasya māhātmyaṃ yogaśāntipadapradam ||

Pleased with your disposition, I shall tell all, O lord:
the majesty of Gajānana, which grants the state of yoga and peace.

4.1.15

sāṅkhyaṃ brahma videhākhyaṃ kathitaṃ yogibhiḥ param |
tadeva gajavaktraṃ vai jānīhi tvaṃ prajāpate ||

Brahman is spoken of by yogins as supreme, called the Sāṅkhya, without body;
know that that very one, O Prajāpati, is the elephant-faced [god].

4.1.16

bindubrahmātmako dehaḥ so'haṃ vaktraṃ prakīrtitam |
tayorabhedako bodho babhāveva sa dehavān ||

His body consists of the point-Brahman; the face is declared to be ‘I am He’ (so'ham).
He became embodied, as it were, as the consciousness non-different from both of them.

4.1.17

trividheṣu sthito devo tathāpi tadvivarjitaḥ |
videho gajavaktraśca śobhata sāṅkhyadhārakaḥ ||

The god abides in the three kinds, yet he is devoid of them.
Bodiless and elephant-faced, he shines as the bearer of Sāṅkhya.

4.1.18

bodhatyāge mahābhāga kaḥ saṅkhyāṃ kurute vada |
brahmaṇāṃ tena sāṅkhyaṃ tadbrahma vede prakāśitam ||

If consciousness is abandoned, O fortunate one, say, who can reckon?
Therefore, for the Brahmans, Sāṅkhya, that Brahman, is revealed in the Veda.

4.1.19

lobhāsuravināśāya prakaṭo'bhūdgajānanaḥ |
devairvipraiḥ prajānātha prārthito bhaktilālasaḥ ||

Gajānana became manifest for the destruction of the demon Lobhāsura,
prayed to by gods and Brahmins, O lord of creatures, fond of devotion.

4.1.20

caturthyāṃ madhyage bhānau dehadhārī samāgataḥ |
sā tithiḥ paramā tasya prītidā sambabhūva vai ||

On the fourth lunar day, when the sun was in the middle [of the sky], he arrived, taking on a body;
that lunar day indeed became supremely pleasing to him.

4.1.21

sūta uvāca |
iti śrutvā vaco ramyaṃ dakṣo hṛṣṭamanā mune |
jagāda mudgalaṃ vipraṃ caturthījñānasiddhaye ||

Sūta said:
Having heard these delightful words, Dakṣa, with a delighted mind, O sage,
spoke to the Brahmin Mudgala to attain knowledge of the fourth lunar day.

4.1.22

dakṣa uvāca |
kā caturthī tithiḥ proktā śuklā kṛṣṇā vada prabho |
gaṇanāthapriyā'tyantaṃ babhūva kathameva sā ||

Dakṣa said:
Which fourth lunar day is spoken of, the bright or the dark? Tell me, O lord!
How indeed did it become so exceedingly dear to the lord of the troops?

4.1.23

punaḥ punastvayā brahman kathitaṃ tad vrataṃ śubham |
ato brūhi caturthyāstvaṃ māhātmyaṃ sakalaṃ param ||

Again and again that auspicious observance has been spoken of by you, O Brahmin;
therefore, tell the entire supreme majesty of the fourth lunar day.

4.1.24

dakṣasya vacanaṃ śrutvā harṣayukto mahāmuniḥ |
mudgalastamathovāca caturthīsambhavāṃ kathām ||

Hearing the words of Dakṣa, the great sage Mudgala,
filled with joy, then told him the story of the origin of the fourth lunar day.

4.1.25

khaṃ. 4 a. 1 pāna 2) mudgala uvāca |
saṅkṣepeṇa pravakṣyāmi caturthyāśca caritrakam |
gaṇanāthapriyaṃ pūrṇaṃ jñāsyasi tvaṃ prajāpate ||

[Section 4, Chapter 1, Leaf 2] Mudgala said:
I shall tell briefly the history of the fourth lunar day
that is completely dear to the lord of the troops; you shall understand it, O Prajāpati.

4.1.26

purā sṛṣṭiṃ sa sṛṣṭvā vai brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ |
sthitānāṃ tatra jantūnāṃ kālārthaṃ sa dadhe manaḥ ||

Long ago, having created creation, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds,
fixed his mind on [establishing] time for the creatures dwelling there.

4.1.27

nānākāryaprasiddhyarthaṃ sañcintya gaṇapaṃ hṛdi |
abhavaddhyānamāsthāya saṃsthitaścintayānvitaḥ ||

For the successful accomplishment of various tasks, meditating on the lord of troops in his heart,
he remained absorbed in meditation, filled with anxiety.

4.1.28

tatastasya śarīrādvai niḥsṛtā prakṛtiḥ parā |
mahāmāyā tithīnāṃ sā jananī kāmarūpiṇī ||

Then from his body issued forth supreme Prakṛti,
Mahāmāyā, mother of the lunar days, who takes forms at will.

4.1.29

catuṣpadāṃ tathā dakṣa caturhastāṃ suśobhanām |
caturmukhayutāṃ vīkṣya harṣito'bhūt prajāpatiḥ ||

Seeing her with four feet, four arms, O Dakṣa, very beautiful,
and having four faces, the creator was filled with joy.

4.1.30

tataḥ sā taṃ namaskṛtya tuṣṭāva jagadīśvaram |
nānāstotraiḥ prasādyainamuvāca ghananiḥsvanā ||

Then, bowing down to that lord of the universe, she praised him;
propitiating him with various hymns of praise, she spoke with a voice like thunder:

4.1.31

prakṛtiruvāca |
tavāṅganiḥsṛtāṃ māṃ tvaṃ viddhi brahmāṇḍanāyaka |
ājñāṃ kuru pitarmāṃ ca kurve'haṃ bhāvayantritā ||

Prakṛti said:
Know me as issued from your body, O ruler of the universe!
Give me an order, O father, and I will carry it out, bound by devotion.

4.1.32

sthānaṃ dehi tathā bhakṣyaṃ nānābhogādikaṃ prabho |
mahyaṃ deva dayāsindho namaste parameśvara ||

Grant me an abode, food, and various pleasures, O lord!
To me, O god, ocean of compassion; homage to you, supreme lord!

4.1.33

tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā tāṃ jagāda prajāpatiḥ |
sṛṣṭiṃ gaṇeśaṃ sañcintya vicitrāṃ kuru mānade ||

Hearing those words of hers, Prajāpati said to her:
Meditating on Gaṇeśa, create a manifold creation, O honorable lady!

4.1.34

sa tasyai gaṇanāthasya dadau mantraṃ ṣaḍakṣaram |
savidhiṃ sā namaskṛtya yayau taṃ vanamādarāt ||

He gave her the six-syllable mantra of the lord of the troops
along with its rites; she bowed down to him and went to the forest with respect.

4.1.35

tatāpa tapa ugraṃ sā nāsāgranayanā satī |
gaṇeśaṃ hṛdi sandhyāya jajāpa mantramuttamam ||

That virtuous woman performed severe asceticism with her eyes fixed on the tip of her nose;
meditating on Gaṇeśa in her heart, she repeated the excellent mantra.

4.1.36

prajāpate gate varṣasahasre tu gajānanaḥ |
āyayau tāṃ mahābhāgāmagadadbhaktavatsalaḥ ||

When a thousand years had passed, O Prajāpati, Gajānana,
who is affectionate toward his devotees, came to that highly fortunate woman and spoke:

4.1.37

gaṇeśa uvāca |
varān vṛṇu mahābhāge bahūn manasi vāñchitān |
nirāhāreṇa santuṣṭo dadāmi tapasā ca te ||

Gaṇeśa said:
“Choose boons, fortunate lady, many that are desired in your mind.
Pleased by [your] fasting and your ascetic penance, I give [them] to you.”

4.1.38

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā harṣitā praṇanāma tam |
gajānanaṃ prasampūjya tuṣṭāva ca kṛtāñjaliḥ ||

Hearing his word, delighted, she bowed to him;
having worshipped Gajānana, with folded hands she praised [him].

4.1.39

prakṛtiruvāca |
namaste vighnanāthāya gaṇeśāya parātmane |
anāthāya viśeṣeṇa sarvanāthāya te namaḥ ||

Prakṛti said:
“Homage to you, the Lord of Obstacles, Gaṇeśa, the Supreme Self!
Homage to you, who are especially without a master, the master of all!

4.1.40

namo mūṣakavāhāya mūṣakadhvajine namaḥ |
svānandapataye tubhyaṃ gaṇānāṃ pataye namaḥ ||

Homage to the mouse-rider, homage to the mouse-bannered one!
Homage to you, the lord of Svānanda, homage to the lord of the Gaṇas!

4.1.41

siddhibuddhipradātre ca siddhibuddhivihāriṇe |
yogeśāya sadā śāntipradātre yogine namaḥ ||

To the giver of perfection and intellect, and the one who sports with perfection and intellect,
to the lord of yoga, the perpetual giver of peace, to the yogin, homage!

4.1.42

sarvādaye sadā sarvapūjyāya bhaktapālakā |
jyeṣṭharājāya jyeṣṭhānāṃ pataye te namo namaḥ ||

To the origin of all, the one ever worthy of worship by all, the protector of devotees,
to Jyeṣṭharāja, to the lord of the foremost, homage, homage to you!

4.1.43

brahmaṇe brahmadātre vai brahmaṇāṃ pataye namaḥ |
siddheśvarāya devānāṃ daityānāṃ pataye namaḥ ||

To Brahman, the giver of Brahman, indeed homage to the lord of the Brahmans!
To the lord of perfection, homage to the lord of the gods and the Daityas!

4.1.44

caturbhujāya heramba paraśordhārakāya te |
aṅkuśandhāriṇe tubhyaṃ niraṅkuśa namo namaḥ ||

To the four-armed Heramba, the bearer of the axe,
to you, the bearer of the elephant hook, O uncurbed one, homage, homage!

4.1.45

rajasā sṛṣṭikartre te pālane sāttvikāya te |
tāmasāya mahāhantre guṇeśāya namo namaḥ ||

To you, the creator through rajas, to you, the sattvic in preservation,
to the tamasic great destroyer, to the lord of the guṇas, homage, homage!

4.1.46

sthāvarāya carāyaiva carācaramayāya te |
carācaravihīnāya bodhāya ca namo namaḥ ||

To the immobile and to the mobile, to you consisting of the mobile and immobile,
to the one devoid of the mobile and immobile, and to consciousness, homage, homage!

4.1.47

caturvidhasvarūpāya caturvidhasukhaprada |
catuḥsukhasvarūpāya svasaṃvedyāya te namaḥ ||

To the one whose form is fourfold, O bestower of the four kinds of happiness,
to the one whose nature is the four happinesses, to the one known only to himself, homage to you!

4.1.48

vināyakāya sarveṣāṃ nāyakāya namo namaḥ |
gajānanāya devāya devadeveśa te namaḥ ||

To Vināyaka, homage, homage to the leader of all!
To the god Gajānana, homage to you, O lord of the gods of gods!

4.1.49

kiṃ staumi tvāṃ gaṇādhyakṣa brahmaṇaspatirūpiṇam |
yaṃ stotuṃ na samarthāśca yogino vedamukhyakāḥ ||

How can I praise you, Gaṇādhyakṣa, who have the form of Brahmaṇaspati,
whom even the chief yogins of the Vedas are not able to praise?

4.1.50

tavadarśanabodhena tathāpi saṃstuto mayā |
tena tuṣṭo bhava svāmin bhaktiṃ dehi dṛḍhāṃ tvayi ||

Yet through the awareness gained by seeing you, you have been praised by me;
therefore be pleased, O Lord, grant firm devotion unto you.”

4.1.51

iti stutvā gaṇeśānaṃ daṇḍavat praṇanāma tam |
tāmutthāpya gaṇādhīśa uvāca vratamātaram ||

4.1.52

khaṃ. 4 a. 2 pāna 3) gaṇeśa uvāca |
varaṃ vṛṇu mahābhāge yaṃ yamicchasi śobhane |
taṃ taṃ dāsyāmi suprīto bhaktyā stotreṇa toṣitaḥ ||

[Section 4, Chapter 2, Page 3] Gaṇeśa said:
“Choose a boon, fortunate lady, whatever you desire, fair one;
that and that I will give, highly pleased and satisfied by devotion and praise.

4.1.53

tvayā kṛtamidaṃ stotraṃ sarvasiddhipradaṃ bhavet |
yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyāddevi īpsitaṃ labhate naraḥ ||

This hymn of praise composed by you shall bestow all perfections.
Whatever person recites or hears [it], O goddess, attains his desired [goal].

4.1.54

ekakālaṃ dvikālaṃ vā trikālaṃ labhate sadā |
avratī vratasāphalyaṃ paṭhanānnātra saṃśayaḥ ||

One who lacks vows always attains the fruit of vows by reciting [it]
once, twice, or thrice [a day]; there is no doubt about this.”

4.1.55

bruvantaṃ gaṇanāthaṃ sovāca gambhīraniḥsvanā |
devī praṇamya bhāvena sāśrunetrā prajāpate ||

To the lord of Gaṇas as he was speaking, she, with a deep voice,
the goddess, having bowed with feeling, her eyes full of tears, [said], O Prajāpati:

4.1.56

devyuvāca |
varado'si gaṇādhīśa tadā dehi tvayi sthirām |
bhaktiṃ me ca tathā kārye sāmarthyaṃ karuṇānidhe ||

The goddess said:
“If you are the giver of boons, Gaṇādhīśa, then grant me steadfast
devotion to you, and capacity in my duty, O treasure of compassion!

4.1.57

sṛṣṭisarjanasāmarthyaṃ dehi nātha namo'stu te |
sadā tava priyatvaṃ me viyogo na ca te bhavet ||

Grant the capacity for emitting creation, O Lord, homage be to you;
may I always be dear to you, and may there be no separation from you.”

4.1.58

omityuktvā gaṇādhīśo jagāda vadatāṃ varaḥ |
caturvidhapradā devi priyā mama bhaviṣyasi ||

Saying ‘Om’, Gaṇādhīśa, the best among speakers, declared:
“O goddess, bestowing the fourfold [goals], you shall become dear to me.

4.1.59

tithīnāṃ mātṛbhāvena caturthī saṃjñitā bhava |
vāmabhāge sadā kṛṣṇā śuklā dakṣiṇabhāgake ||

In the capacity of mother of the lunar days, become designated as Caturthī,
always dark on the left half, and bright on the right half.

4.1.60

mama janmatithistvaṃ vai bhaviṣyasi na saṃśayaḥ |
sadā tava vrate saṃsthān pālayāmi viśeṣataḥ ||

You indeed shall become the lunar day of my birth, there is no doubt;
I shall especially protect those who are established in your observance.

4.1.61

madīyavratajā puṇyā tithistvaṃ ca bhaviṣyasi |
vrateṣu tvatsamaṃ naiva dāyakaṃ kutra vartate ||

You shall become the holy lunar day born of my observance;
among observances, there is none anywhere that gives like you.”

4.1.62

evamuktvā gaṇeśānoṃ'tardhānaṃ pracakāra ha |
vratamātā prajānāthā'bhavattatraiva saṃsthitā ||

Having spoken thus, the lord Gaṇeśa disappeared.
The Mother of Observances remained right there, O lord of creatures.

4.1.62.c1

oṃ tatsaditi śrīmadāntye purāṇopaniṣadi śrīmanmaudgale mahāpurāṇe caturthe khaṇḍe gajānanacarite caturthītapovarṇanaṃ nāma prathamo'dhyāyaḥ ||

Om tat sat. Thus ends the first chapter, named ‘Description of the Asceticism of Caturthī’, in the deeds of Gajānana, in the fourth section of the glorious Maudgala Mahāpurāṇa, the late Purāṇic Upaniṣad.