Mudgalapurana 4.8: vratavarṇanaṃ nāmāṣṭamo'dhyāyaḥ

4.8.p1

śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ ||

Homage to the glorious Gaṇeśa.

4.8.1

vasiṣṭha uvāca |
āśvine varadātrī yā caturthī śuklapakṣagā |
tāṃ śṛṇuṣva mahābhāga savratāṃ sarvadāyinīm ||

Vasiṣṭha said: / Listen, O fortunate one, to that fourth lunar day in the bright fortnight of Āśvina which grants boons, / along with its vow, bestowing all things.

4.8.2

itihāsaṃ pravakṣyāmi purātanabhavaṃ nṛpa |
vratasaṃyuktamāhātmyaṃ bhavet sarvārthasādhakam ||

I shall tell an ancient history, O king, / a greatness accompanied by a vow, which achieves all purposes.

4.8.3

raivatāntarago rājā kīrtimāṃśca babhūva ha |
mato nāmnā dharmadharaḥ pūrṇaśastrāstrapāragaḥ ||

During the Raivata Manvantara, there was a renowned king, / known by the name of Dharmadhara, completely mastered in weapons and missiles.

4.8.4

devaviprātithiprepsuḥ pañcayajñaparāyaṇaḥ |
nītijñaḥ putravallokān pālayan svahite rataḥ ||

He was eager to honor gods, Brahmins, and guests, devoted to the five sacrifices, / skilled in policy, protecting the subjects like sons, and intent upon his own welfare.

4.8.5

bhāryā tasyā'bhavat sā'pi pātivratyaguṇānvitā |
sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyuktā vipradevātithipriyā ||

He also had a wife endowed with the virtues of wifely devotion, / possessing all auspicious marks, and fond of Brahmins, gods, and guests.

4.8.6

gajānāṃ ca hayānāṃ vai padātīnāṃ mahīpateḥ |
rathānāṃ naiva saṅkhyā'sti dhānuṣkāṇāṃ viśeṣataḥ ||

For that king there was indeed no counting the elephants and horses, / the foot-soldiers, chariots, and especially the archers.

4.8.7

saptadvīpavatīṃ pṛthvīṃ pālayan sa narādhipaḥ |
devādīnāṃ ca saṅgrāme hyajeyaḥ paravīrahā ||

Protecting the earth composed of seven continents, that ruler of men / was invincible in battle against even the gods, a slayer of enemy heroes.

4.8.8

tasya vandhyatvadoṣeṇa nṛpa putro babhūva no |
nānāyatnaparo rājā putrārthe prababhūva ha ||

Because of the fault of childlessness, O king, he had no son. / The king became engaged in various efforts for the sake of a son.

4.8.9

tīrthayātrādikaṃ sarvaṃ cakāra vidhivannṛpaḥ |
anuṣṭhānavratādīni devānāṃ pūjanaṃ tathā ||

The king undertook pilgrimages to sacred places and all else according to rule, / as well as religious observances, vows, and the worship of the gods.

4.8.10

evaṃ nānāvidhaiḥ puṇyairna babhūva sutastataḥ |
rājyaṃ tyaktvā vane rājā sastrīkaḥ sa jagāma ha ||

Even with various kinds of merits such as these, no son was born from them. / Abandoning his kingdom, the king went to the forest together with his wife.

4.8.11

tatra bhramaṇayuktaḥ sa dadarśa ha mahāvanam |
siṃhavyālādisaṃyuktaṃ bhayadaṃ sarvajanminām ||

Wandering there, he saw a great forest, / filled with lions, serpents, and other beasts, terrifying to all living beings.

4.8.12

duḥkhayuktaḥ sa rājarṣiḥ praveśaṃ sa cakāra ha |
vane tatra muniśreṣṭhaṃ saubhariṃ sandadarśa ca ||

Afflicted with sorrow, that royal sage made his entry [into it]. / There in the forest he caught sight of the best of sages, Saubhari.

4.8.13

taṃ praṇamya mahābhāgaḥ sastrīkaḥ purato muneḥ |
kṛtāñjalipuṭo bhūtvā tasthau sa nṛpasammukhaḥ ||

Bowing to him with his wife before the sage, the fortunate one / folded his hands in supplication and stood facing the sage, O king.

4.8.14

khaṃ. 4 a. 8 pāna 25) tataḥ saubhariṇā so'pi satkṛto vacanena ca |
niṣasādāsane tatra muninā darśite nṛpaḥ ||

Section 4, Chapter 8, page 26) Then, honored also by Saubhari with kind words, / the king sat down there on the seat shown by the sage.

4.8.15

tamuvāca mahābhāgaṃ rājānaṃ munisattamaḥ |
ko'si tvaṃ vana ugre me'tra kimarthaṃ samāgataḥ ||

The best of sages spoke to that fortunate king: / "Who are you in my fierce forest? For what purpose have you come here?"

4.8.16

iti pṛṣṭo mahīpālastamuvāca suharṣitaḥ |
kīrtimān sarvadharmajñaḥ kṛtvā karapuṭaṃ vacaḥ ||

4.8.17

kīrtimānuvāca |
drāviḍe vasatirme'sti nagare surasattame |
rājyaṃ karomi tatrā'haṃ sārvabhaumo mahāmune ||

Kīrtimant said: / "My dwelling is in the Drāviḍa country, in a city superior even to [the cities of] the gods. / I rule as a universal sovereign there, O great sage.

4.8.18

aputro daivayogena jāto'haṃ munisattama |
putrārthe vratatīrthādīn nānādharmān karomi vai ||

Through the power of destiny I have become sonless, O best of sages. / For the sake of a son I perform various dharmas, such as vows and pilgrimages.

4.8.19

rājyaṃ tyaktvā vane yoginnāgataḥ putrakāmyayā |
tatra te darśanaṃ prāptaṃ sarvasiddhipradaṃ prabho ||

Leaving behind my kingdom, O yogin, I have come to the forest desiring a son. / There the sight of you has been obtained, which bestows all perfections, O lord.

4.8.20

tava darśanamātreṇa saphalo me bhavo bhavet |
mātṛpitrādikaṃ sarvaṃ dhanyaṃ jātaṃ na saṃśayaḥ ||

By the mere sight of you, my life will become fruitful. / My mother, father, and all others have become blessed; of this there is no doubt.

4.8.21

adhunā brūhi me nātha putraprāptyarthamādarāt |
upāyaṃ taṃ cariṣyāmi tvadājñāvaśago mune ||

Now tell me with favor, O master, for the sake of obtaining a son, / the means; subject to your command, O sage, I shall perform it.

4.8.22

iha janmani bho vipra na kṛtaṃ pāpamulbaṇam |
mayā rājyaṃ kṛtaṃ bhūmerbhayayuktena cetasā ||

In this life, O Brahmin, no terrible sin was committed by me. / I ruled the earth with a fearful heart.

4.8.23

tathāpi vandhyajo doṣo mayā prāpto mahāmune |
pūrvajanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ jñāyate naiva cetasā ||

Even so, the fault arising from childlessness has been obtained by me, O great sage; / the sin committed in a previous birth is not known by my mind.

4.8.24

kathayasva mahograṃ me pāpaṃ sarvavidāṃ vara |
yogīndro'si mahātejāḥ sākṣādbrahmatanordharaḥ ||

Tell me my very fierce sin, O best among the knowers of all! / You are an emperor of yogins, of great splendor, visibly bearing the form of Brahman."

4.8.25

vasiṣṭha uvāca |
evaṃ vinayayuktena rājñā pṛṣṭo mahāmuniḥ |
saubharistaṃ jagādedaṃ vacanaṃ gaṇapapriyaḥ ||

Vasiṣṭha said: / When asked in this way by the humble king, the great sage / Saubhari, beloved of Gaṇeśa, spoke this word to him.

4.8.26

saubhariruvāca |
kṛtaṃ tvayā mahatpāpaṃ mahārāja viśeṣataḥ |
pūrvajanmakṛtaṃ naiva pāpaṃ te vidyate'dhama ||

Saubhari said: / "A great sin was committed especially by you, O great king. / There is no sin committed by you in a previous birth, O lowest of men!

4.8.27

tava rājye mahāmūrkha caturthīvratamuttamam |
layaṃ prāptaṃ viśeṣeṇa vratādau phaladaṃ matam ||

In your kingdom, O great fool, the supreme vow of Caturthī / has met with dissolution, which is regarded as the fruit-giver at the head of all vows.

4.8.28

caturthīvratamādyaṃ yanmānavena narādhama |
na kṛtaṃ cedvratānīha niṣphalāni bhavanti ca ||

If the primary vow of Caturthī is not performed by a man, O vile among men, / all vows in this world become fruitless.

4.8.29

viśeṣatastvayā karma nānāpuṇyādikaṃ kṛtam |
caturthīhīnabhāvena niṣphalaṃ tadbabhūva ha ||

In particular, various deeds of merit were done by you, / but because they were devoid of Caturthī, all that became fruitless.

4.8.30

caturvidhapadārthānāṃ dātrī sā varadā matā |
caturvidhaṃ tu saṅkaṣṭaṃ harantī saṅkaṭī matā ||

It is considered the bestower of the four kinds of human aims, a granter of boons; / and taking away the four kinds of distress, it is known as Saṅkaṭī.

4.8.31

bhunakti rājā pāpaṃ rāṣṭrakṛtaṃ śāstrasammatam |
janānāṃ vratahīnānāṃ pāpabhāgī bhavān mataḥ ||

A king consumes the sin committed by his kingdom, as agreed by the sacred scriptures. / You are deemed a partaker of the sin of the people who are devoid of the vow.

4.8.32

ataḥ pāpamayī mūrtistvamevātra na saṃśayaḥ |
tena vandhyatvamāpanno narādhama na buddhyase ||

Therefore you alone are an embodiment of sin here, there is no doubt. / Because of that you have reached childlessness, O lowest of men; do you not realize it?"

4.8.33

saubharervacanaṃ śrutvā kīrtimāṃstaṃ jagāda ha |
vinayena samāyukto bhayabhītaśca pārthivaḥ ||

Hearing Saubhari's words, Kīrtimant spoke to him, / the king being filled with humility and terrified by fear.

4.8.34

kīrtimānuvāca |
ajñānena kṛtaṃ karma mayā svāmin supāpinā |
kīdṛśaṃ tadvrataṃ vipra mahyaṃ vada vidhānataḥ ||

Kīrtimant said: / "Through ignorance the deed was done by me, a great sinner, O master. / What is that vow like, O Brahmin? Tell me according to the rules.

4.8.35

putraprāptyarthamevaṃ me vadopāyaṃ mahāmate |
yena pāpavihīno'haṃ bhavāmi putravān sukhī ||

For the sake of obtaining a son, tell me such a means, O noble-minded one, / by which, freed from sin, I may become happy and possessed of a son."

4.8.36

saubhariruvāca |
caturthīvratamādyaṃ tvaṃ kuruṣva nṛpa nityadā |
janaiḥ sarvaistadā sarvapāpahīno bhaviṣyasi ||

Saubhari said: / "Perform constantly the primary vow of Caturthī, O king, / together with all the people; then you will be freed from all sins.

4.8.37

ajñānena karoṣi sma pāpaṃ jñātvā'nutāpavān |
vratācaraṇamātreṇa niṣpāpaḥ puṇyabhāg bhaveḥ ||

You committed sin out of ignorance; having recognized it, you are remorseful. / By the mere performance of the vow, you will become sinless and share in merit."

4.8.38

ityuktvā vratamāhātmyaṃ kathayāmāsa vistarāt |
tataḥ so'pi mahābuddhiḥ papraccha vinayānvitaḥ ||

Having said this, he related the majesty of the vow in detail. / Then he too, endowed with great intellect, asked with humility:

4.8.38.p1

kīrtimānuvāca |
(

Kīrtimant said: / "

4.8.39

khaṃ. 4 a. 8 pāna 26) kīdṛśo'yaṃ gaṇādhīśo vrataṃ yasya catuḥpadam |
brahmabhūyakaraṃ proktaṃ bhajiṣyāmi viśeṣataḥ ||

Section 4, Chapter 8, page 26) What is this Gaṇādhīśa like, whose vow consists of four quarters, / and is said to bring about the state of Brahman? I shall worship him especially."

4.8.40

tatastaṃ muniśārdūlaḥ saubhariḥ punarabravīt |
māhātmyaṃ gaṇanāthasya śāntiyogapadapradam ||

Then that tiger among sages, Saubhari, spoke again to him / of the majesty of the lord of the gaṇas, which bestows the station of peace and yoga.

4.8.41

saubhariruvāca |
purā'haṃ tapasā yukto nānāchandaparāyaṇaḥ |
abhavaṃ tatra devā vai bhayabhītā babhūvire ||

Saubhari said: / "Formerly, endowed with ascetic heat and devoted to various meters, / I dwelt [in penance]; at that, the gods indeed became terrified by fear:

4.8.42

aho tapaḥprabhāveṇa jitvā sarvaṃ dvijottamaḥ |
kimicchati padaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ jñāyate'smābhireva na ||

'Ah, having conquered all by the power of his ascetic heat, what supreme station / does the best of the twice-born desire? It is not known by us.'

4.8.43

preṣayāmāsa sastrīkaṃ tataḥ kāmaṃ surādhipaḥ |
tapobhaṅgārthamevaṃ me kāmastatra samāgataḥ ||

Then the king of the gods sent Kāma along with his wife. / Thus, for the sake of breaking my penance, Kāma came there.

4.8.44

urvaśīsahitābhiścāpsarobhirmadhunā tathā |
āttabāṇaḥ svayaṃ kāmaḥ pīḍayāmāsa māṃ śaraiḥ ||

Together with apsarases accompanied by Urvaśī, and with the Spring, / Kāma himself, grasping his arrows, tormented me with shafts.

4.8.45

ahaṃ tapaḥprabhāveṇa jitvā kāmaṃ saha striyā |
mohahīnastapastatrā'tapaṃ sudṛḍhaniścayaḥ ||

Having conquered Kāma together with his wife through the power of my ascetic heat, / free from delusion, I performed penance there with very firm resolve.

4.8.46

tato me tapasogreṇa dāhayukto babhūva ha |
kāmaḥ palāyya sarvaistaṃ maghavantaṃ jagāda saḥ ||

Then, by the fierce power of my penance, Kāma was afflicted with burning heat. / Fleeing with them all, he spoke to Maghavan.

4.8.47

tato'haṃ yogamārgeṇāṃ'tarniṣṭhaścābhavannṛpa |
jaḍonmattādimārgeṣu saṃsthito yogakāraṇāt ||

Then, O king, by the path of yoga I became focused within, / dwelling in the ways of an inert, mad person and the like, for the sake of yoga.

4.8.48

tataḥ śuko mahāyogī gāṇapatyaḥ samāgataḥ |
mamāśrame sa māṃ dṛṣṭvā jagādecchasi kiṃ mune ||

Then the great yogin Śuka, a worshiper of Gaṇeśa, arrived / at my hermitage; seeing me, he said, 'What do you desire, O sage?'

4.8.49

tatastaṃ praṇato bhūtvā kṛtāñjaliḥ puraḥ prabhoḥ |
sthitvā'vadaṃ suvākyaṃ tacchṛṇu rājan susiddhidam ||

Then, having bowed to him with folded hands before the master / and stood there, I spoke an auspicious speech; hear that, O king, which bestows true perfection.

4.8.50

mama śreṣṭhena bhāgyena tvaṃ prāpto'si mahāyaśāḥ |
śāntiṃ vada mahāyogin yayā śānto bhavāmyaham ||

"By my supreme good fortune you have arrived, O greatly renowned one! / Tell me of peace, O great yogin, by which I may become peaceful."

4.8.51

śrīśuka uvāca |
cittaṃ pañcavidhaṃ tyaktvā cittaṃ kṛtvā ca tanmayam |
nirodhenaiva bhūmīnāṃ śāntiṃ prāpsyasi niścitam ||

Śrī Śuka said: / "Abandoning the fivefold mind and making the mind absorb into That, / by the restraint alone of the stages [of mind], you will surely attain peace.

4.8.52

cintāmaṇiṃ bhajasva tvaṃ mantreṇaikākṣareṇa ca |
tena cintāmaṇau vipra sañcittaḥ subhaviṣyasi ||

Worship Cintāmaṇi with the single-syllable mantra; / by that, O brāhmaṇa, your mind fixed on Cintāmaṇi, you will attain prosperity.

4.8.53

tyaktvā jaḍādikaṃ mārgaṃ śamadamaparāyaṇaḥ |
gaṇanāthaṃ mahābhāga bhaja yatnena nityadā ||

Abandoning the path of dullness and the like, devoted to tranquility and self-restraint, / constantly worship Gaṇanātha with effort, O fortunate one!"

4.8.54

evamuktvā śuko yogī yayau svecchāparāyaṇaḥ |
gaṇeśanāma saṅkīrtya japaṃścaiva viśeṣataḥ ||

Having spoken thus, the yogin Śuka went away, moving according to his own desire, / chanting the name of Gaṇeśa and especially muttering [it].

4.8.55

ahaṃ gaṇapatiṃ bhaktyā'bhajaṃ sambhaktisaṃyutaḥ |
ekākṣaravidhānenā''sthāpya mūrtiṃ puro nṛpa ||

With devotion, filled with deep devotion, I worshipped Gaṇapati / by the rule of the single-syllable [mantra], installing an image before me, O king.

4.8.56

tataḥ svalpena kālena śāntiṃ prāpto'hamādarāt |
tathāpi pūjane sakto'bhajaṃ taṃ gaṇanāyakam ||

Then, after a short time, I attained peace through reverence; / yet, devoted to worship, I still worshipped that Gaṇanāyaka.

4.8.57

daśavarṣe gate kāle vighneśo māṃ samāgataḥ |
mayā sampūjito rājan stutaśca vividhaiḥ stavaiḥ ||

When a period of ten years had passed, Vighneśa came to me; / he was thoroughly worshipped by me, O king, and praised with diverse hymns.

4.8.58

gāṇapatyapadaṃ dattvā gataḥ svānandake pure |
tadādi gāṇapatyo'haṃ bhajāmi brahmanāyakam ||

Granting the state of a Gāṇapatya, he departed to the city of Svānanda; / from that time forward, as a Gāṇapatya, I worship the Lord of Brahman.

4.8.59

evamuktvā sa rājānaṃ dadau mantraṃ vidhānataḥ |
ṣaḍakṣaraṃ sa rājarṣistaṃ praṇamya yayau puram ||

Having spoken thus to the king, he duly gave him the six-syllable mantra; / having bowed to him, that royal sage departed to his city.

4.8.60

sa āśvinyāṃ dvitīyāyāṃ śuklāyāṃ tu gṛhe gataḥ |
tasmin māse caturthyāṃ ca śuklāyāṃ vratamārabhat ||

He returned home on the second day of the bright fortnight of the month of Āśvina; / and on the fourth day of the bright fortnight in that month, he began the observance.

4.8.61

janaiḥ sarvaiḥ samāyukta upoṣaṇaparāyaṇaḥ |
madhyāhne gaṇapaṃ tatra prapūjya vidhivannṛpaḥ ||

Together with all the people, devoted to fasting, / duly worshipping Gaṇapa there at midday, the king,

4.8.62

rātrau jāgaraṇaṃ cakre bālavṛddhasamanvitaḥ |
naraiḥ strībhistadvrataṃ ca kṛtaṃ sarvairyathātatham ||

kept a vigil at night along with the young and the old; / and that observance was performed properly by all men and women.

4.8.63

śuklāṃ kṛṣṇāṃ caturthīṃ ye na kurvanti narādhamāḥ |
tāḍanīyāḥ prayatnena pṛthivyāṃ yatra tatra saḥ ||

"Those lowest of men who do not observe the fourth [lunar day] of the bright or dark fortnight / are to be strictly punished, wherever they may be upon the earth."

4.8.64

khaṃ. 4 a. 9 pāna 27) ghoṣeṇa ghoṣayāmāsa tataḥ sarve tathā'bhavan |
vrataṃ tato vai babhūva praśastaṃ bhūmimaṇḍale ||

He proclaimed this by proclamation, and then all acted accordingly; / from that time, indeed, the observance became renowned across the entire earth.

4.8.65

evaṃ bhūmaṇḍale rājyaṃ kṛtvā putre nivedya saḥ |
vane gatvā gaṇeśānaṃ sastrīko nṛpa ābhajan ||

Thus, having ruled the earth and entrusted it to his son, / having gone to the forest with his wife, the king worshipped the Lord of Gaṇas.

4.8.66

ante svānandago bhūtvā brahmabhūto babhūva ha |
tasya rājye sthitā lokāḥ sarve svānandagā babhuḥ ||

In the end, having gone to Svānanda, he became one with Brahman; / and all the people living in his realm went to Svānanda.

4.8.67

evamanyaṃ daśaratha śṛṇuṣva tvaṃ vratodbhavam |
itihāsaṃ pravakṣyāmi cāśvinyāṃ paramādbhutam ||

Hear now another [tale], O Daśaratha, arising from this observance; / I shall recount a most wonderful ancient history concerning [the fourth day of] Āśvina.

4.8.68

bhīmo nāma mahāvyādhaḥ pāpakarmaparāyaṇaḥ |
mārge janān nihatvā'gṛhya dhanaṃ sa tutoṣa ha ||

There was a great hunter named Bhīma, devoted to sinful deeds; / killing people on the road and seizing their wealth, he was well pleased.

4.8.69

ekadā vanamadhye sa brāhmaṇaṃ hantumudyataḥ |
palāyata dvijastatra vane bhayasamākulaḥ ||

Once in the middle of the forest, he set out to kill a brāhmaṇa; / the twice-born fled through the forest, overcome with fear.

4.8.70

etasminnantare tatrāśvagaḥ śastradharaḥ pumān |
dhāvaṃśca brāhmaṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmaṃ dhṛtvā gataḥ pure ||

In the meantime, a weapon-bearing man on horseback, / seeing the fleeing brāhmaṇa, seized Bhīma and took him to the city.

4.8.71

tato dvijaḥ sukhenaiva svāśramaṃ prajagāma ha |
puruṣo bhīmavyādhaṃ taṃ rājñe duṣṭaṃ nyavedayat ||

Then the twice-born went happily to his own hermitage; / the man delivered the wicked hunter Bhīma to the king.

4.8.72

tatra so'pi kṣudhāviṣṭo vyādhaḥ saṃsthāpito'bhavat |
rājñā''śvinyāṃ caturthyāṃ vai śuklāyāṃ daivayogataḥ ||

There that hunter was kept [in confinement], afflicted by hunger, / by the king, by the power of fate, on the fourth [day] of the bright [fortnight] of Āśvina.

4.8.73

pañcamyāṃ taṃ jaghānaiva tato vyādhaṃ gajānanaḥ |
caturthyāṃ kṣudhitatvāt sa brahmabhūtaṃ cakāra ha ||

Then, on the fifth day, Gajānana struck down that hunter; / because he had fasted on the fourth, he made him one with Brahman.

4.8.74

evaṃ nānājanā rājan caturthīvratayogataḥ |
svānandasthā bhavantīha mayā vaktuṃ na śakyate ||

In this way, O king, various people, through connection with the observance of the fourth day, / dwell in Svānanda; they cannot [all] be described by me.

4.8.75

caturthījamidaṃ citraṃ caritaṃ kathitaṃ mayā |
śuklā''śvinyāṃ samudbhūtaṃ śravaṇāt sarvasiddhidam ||

This wondrous narrative born of the fourth day has been told by me; / arising in the bright fortnight of Āśvina, from hearing it, it grants all success.

4.8.76

śṛṇuyādyaḥ paṭhedvā'pi bhuktiṃ muktiṃ labhennaraḥ |
putrapautrādisaṃyuktaḥ suhṛdbhirnṛpasattama ||

A person who hears or reads it attains enjoyment and liberation, / endowed with sons, grandsons, and the like, together with friends, O best of kings!

4.8.76.c1

oṃ tatsaditi śrīmadāntye purāṇopaniṣadi śrīmanmaudgale mahāpurāṇe caturthe khaṇḍe gajānanacarite śuklā''śvinī caturthī vratavarṇanaṃ nāmāṣṭamo'dhyāyaḥ ||

"Om tat sat." Thus ends the eighth chapter, named "Description of the Observance of the Fourth Day of the Bright Fortnight of Āśvina," in the narrative of Gajānana in the fourth section of the glorious and final Purāṇopaniṣad, the venerable Maudgala Mahāpurāṇa.