Mudgalapurana 4.2: śuklakṛṣṇacaturthīvaradānavarṇanaṃ nāma dvitīyo'dhyāyaḥ

Homage to the glorious Gaṇeśa!

Mudgala said:
“Then, remembering Gaṇādhyakṣa, the goddess set her mind to create;
then suddenly she became divided in two, by left and right parts.

The left part was dark-colored, and the right limb likewise shone
white-colored, O fortunate one; then she was astonished.

Meditating again upon Gaṇapati, she set about creating there;
then from her lotus-mouth the lunar day Pratipad came forth.

From the nose came Dvitīyā, and from the chest Tṛtīyā;
and from the fingers, O Dakṣa, the lunar day Pañcamī came into being.

Ṣaṣṭhī was born from the heart, Saptamī shone forth from the eyes;
and the great lunar day Aṣṭamī was born from the region of the arms.

The lunar day Navamī was born from the belly, O Prajāpati;
Daśamī indeed from the region of the ears, and Ekādaśī is considered [born] from the neck.

Dvādaśī was born from her two feet likewise, O all-pervading one;
Trayodaśī from her breast, and Caturdaśī from egoity.

Pūrṇimā was born from the mind; Amāvāsyā likewise arose
from the tongue: with all aspects the lunar days assumed differentiation.

The fifteen lunar days called dark are proclaimed to have arisen
from her who is called the dark Caturthī, as should be known by the wise.

Fourteen bright ones are considered [born] from the body of the bright Caturthī;
all the lunar days shone forth according to rule, endowed with their respective qualities.

The day-portions became male, the nights were in the form of women;
knowing the sport of their own natures, they became intent on welfare.

[Section 4, Chapter 2, Page 4] Together with the lunar days, the goddess Caturthī remained in ascetic penance;
she worshipped Gaṇeśa constantly, devoted to mantra and meditation.

After one year, Vighneśa, affectionate to devotees, went to her,
to the bright one at midday, and likewise to the dark one at moonrise.

‘State a boon,’ the lord Gaṇeśa said to her in particular.
Bowing to the lord of obstacles, having worshipped and praised [him], she said:

Caturthī said:
‘Make me have you as my sole abode, O god Gajānana;
I ask for no other boon, O Lord, I desire eternal devotion.’

Hearing that word of hers, Gajānana said to her:
‘O Caturthī, my vision was attained by you at midday;

therefore at the time of midday others, Śiva and the rest,
and people constantly worship me when [the moon] is in the Caturthī of the bright fortnight.

Become the chief among my observances with every disposition;
fasting, they worship me united with you there.

I will bestow the fourfold [fruits] regulated by various dispositions;
even if there is no accumulated [merit], O goddess, still [I will grant it] here without doubt.’

And if there is accumulated [karma], O wise one, you give [relief]. / Therefore your renowned name shall be Varadā.

Those who do not worship you, united with me in the spirit of the vow, / let all their vows indeed become fruitless!

Having spoken thus, that Gaṇeśa, leader of the gods, vanished. / From then on, O Prajāpati, that lunar day was renowned as Varadā.

It is remembered as Gaṇeśa’s birthday, exceedingly dear [to him]. / On it, fasting must be observed by men who desire their own welfare.

On the fifth lunar day, O Dakṣa, the breaking of the fast must be performed witnessed by twice-born [brāhmaṇas]. / The fourfold fruit is obtained by them; there is no doubt about this.

Whatever the performer of the vow desires, that he obtains; / and in the end, going to Svānanda, he attains union with Brahman.

If sinful men eat preferred food during that vow, / they will become denizens of hell, deprived of food in their next birth.

Thus he, the destroyer of obstacles, gave the boon to the fourth lunar day, / and that lunar day, rooted in the vow, became honored by all.

Then the leader of the Gaṇas addressed the dark fourth lunar day: / “Choose a boon, O fortunate one; I shall grant what your heart desires.”

Hearing him, she first bowed to Gajānana, worshipped him, / praised him, and, filled with great joy, spoke these words:

The dark fourth lunar day said: / “If with a gracious disposition you grant a boon, O Gajānana, / then grant me firm devotion to you, O Mahodara!

May I always be dear to you, O Lord, and may there be no separation for me. / Make me honored by all, by virtue of being solely devoted to you.”

Hearing that speech of hers, Gajānana said to her: / “You will always be exceedingly dear to me, O great lunar day!

Indeed, at moonrise I was reached by you; therefore, O Caturthikā, / at that time, let this principal vow united with you be dear [to me].

There shall be no separation. Devotees, dear one, abstaining from food and water, / worship [me]; do you remove their distress!

For five watches, dear one, my devotees, abstaining from food and water, / worship [me]; do you remove their distress!

Their own distress is of four kinds: birth, death, and that born of action. / For those who observe the vow, the [distressing] fruit of that action never exists.

Thus the various [distresses], O goddess, specifically fourfold, / (

Khaṇḍa 4, Adhyāya 2, Page 5) which cause distress, do you remove by my grace, O Caturthikā!

Never indeed shall there be distress for a man who performs the vow, / who is endowed with devotion to me, and who serves me united with you.

Having enjoyed all pleasures in this world, in the end he will attain Svānanda. / Your name, O Caturthikā, shall be Saṅkaṣṭaharaṇī [Remover of Distress].

If a man who practices devotion to me does not observe Caturthī, / all his worship will indeed become fruitless.

Those sinful men who abandon you and perform another vow, / all their vows and the like will become fruitless.

If one established in his caste and stage of life does not observe Caturthī, / all his work abiding in his own duty becomes fruitless.

An ascetic, being without food at night, should observe the vow, / the remover of distress, O goddess, for the sake of Svānanda; there is no doubt.

And by others accompanied by twice-born [brāhmaṇas], a meal witnessed by twice-born [brāhmaṇas] / should be taken at night during this [vow], after worshipping me, O lovely-faced one.

In Śrāvaṇa one should eat sweets (laḍḍukas); in Bhādraka, a meal of curds; / in Āśvina, complete fasting from water is declared; and in Kārtika, the drinking of milk;

in Mārgaśīrṣa, subsistence on water; in Pauṣa, the consumption of cow's urine; / in the month of Māgha, white sesame seeds; in Phālguna, ghee and sugar;

in the month of Madhu, the five cow products (pañcagavya); in Vaiśākha, lotus seeds; / in Jyeṣṭha, cow's ghee should be eaten; in Āṣāḍha, a meal of honey.

For ascetics, indeed, this vow is declared proper at all times; / for others, this fasting or meal is remembered [according to rule].

Rising quickly when only one watch of the night remains, / the morning rites should be performed in brief by that man.

Likewise the midday rites should be performed in the morning itself. / Sunrise is declared to be four ghaṭikās into the night.

Having thus performed his duties and worshipped me with brief mantras, / he should perform attendance upon the sun at the actual time of sunrise.

Until moonrise he should silently repeat my mantra / at the root of a śamī tree; thereafter, he should take a bath.

There the best of men should perform the rites pertaining to evening time; / having worshipped me according to rule, he should then offer the arghya.

First the offering of arghya to you, and then the presentation of arghya to me; / then the observer of the vow should make the offering of seven arghyas to the moon.

The man should eat a meal with honored brāhmaṇas, O goddess, / respectfully with modakas, cakes, laḍḍukas, milk-rice, and the like.

At night he should keep vigil, engaged with stories about me, / worshipping me with effort with various offerings on the fifth lunar day.

A man who performs the vow in this manner will obtain the fulfillment of all goals; / he will be honored by the immortals, and in the end he will dissolve into Brahman.

Just as I am to be worshipped before all among gods and others, / so you shall be the first to be worshipped among all kinds of vows.

Those immortals and others who observe the bright and dark fourth lunar days / will attain success in all vows and the like.”

Having spoken thus, that Gaṇeśa, the lord of Brahman, vanished; / and the fourth lunar day, filled with devotion, remained right there.

Om tat sat. Thus ends the second chapter, entitled “Description of the Granting of the Boon to the Bright and Dark Fourth Lunar Days,” in the story of Gajānana, in the fourth section of the glorious Maudgala Mahāpurāṇa, the ultimate Purāṇic Upaniṣad.