The Birth of Ganesha

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.131.1)

सूत उवाच तारकारेरिति श्रुत्वा वृत्तमद्भुतमुत्तमम् । नारदः सुप्रसन्नोऽथ पप्रच्छ प्रीतितो विधिम्

sūta uvāca tārakāreriti śrutvā vṛttamadbhutamuttamam nāradaḥ suprasanno'tha papraccha prītito vidhim

Suta said: Having heard this wondrous and supreme account of the enemy of Taraka, Narada, most delighted, then joyfully questioned Brahma.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.131.2)

नारद उवाच देवदेव प्रजानाथ शिवज्ञाननिधे मया । श्रुतं कार्तिकसद्वृत्तममृतादपि चोत्तमम्

nārada uvāca devadeva prajānātha śivajñānanidhe mayā śrutaṁ kārtikasadvṛttamamṛtādapi cottamam

Narada said: O God of gods, O lord of creatures, O treasury of Shiva-knowledge, I have heard from you the excellent account of Kartika, more precious even than nectar.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.131.3)

अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि गाणेशं वृत्तमुत्तमम् । तज्जन्मचरितं दिव्यं सर्वमङ्गलमङ्गलम्

adhunā śrotumicchāmi gāṇeśaṁ vṛttamuttamam tajjanmacaritaṁ divyaṁ sarvamaṅgalamaṅgalam

Now I wish to hear the supreme account of Ganesha -- his divine birth-story, the very auspiciousness of all auspicious things.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.131.4)

सूत उवाच इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य नारदस्य महामुनेः । प्रसन्नमानसो ब्रह्मा प्रत्युवाच शिवं स्मरन्

sūta uvāca ityākarṇya vacastasya nāradasya mahāmuneḥ prasannamānaso brahmā pratyuvāca śivaṁ smaran

Suta said: Hearing these words of the great sage Narada, Brahma, his mind pleased, replied, calling Shiva to mind.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.131.5)

ब्रह्मोवाच कल्पभेदाद्गणेशस्य जनिः प्रोक्ता विधेः परात् । शनिदृष्टं शिरश्छिन्नं सञ्चितं गाजमाननम्

brahmovāca kalpabhedādgaṇeśasya janiḥ proktā vidheḥ parāt śanidṛṣṭaṁ śiraśchinnaṁ sañcitaṁ gājamānanam

Brahma said: According to the difference of kalpa, the birth of Ganesha has been told in various ways -- his head, glanced upon by Shani, was severed, and an elephant's head was then fixed in its place.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.131.6)

इदानीं श्वेतकल्पोक्ता गणेशोत्पत्तिरुच्यते । यत्र च्छिन्नं शिरस्तस्य शिवेन च कृपालुना

idānīṁ śvetakalpoktā gaṇeśotpattirucyate yatra cchinnaṁ śirastasya śivena ca kṛpālunā

Now I shall tell the birth of Ganesha as told in the Shveta Kalpa, in which his head was severed, and by compassionate Shiva restored.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.131.7)

सन्देहो नात्र कर्तव्यः शङ्करस्सूतिकृन्मुने । स हि सर्वाधिपः शम्भुर्निर्गुणः सगुणोऽपि हि

sandeho nātra kartavyaḥ śaṅkarassūtikṛnmune sa hi sarvādhipaḥ śambhurnirguṇaḥ saguṇo'pi hi

No doubt should be entertained here, O sage: Shankara is indeed the giver of birth. For Shambhu is the lord of all, beyond qualities, and yet possessed of qualities too.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.131.8)

तल्लीलयाखिलं विश्वं सृज्यते पाल्यते तथा । विनाश्यते मुनिश्रेष्ठ प्रस्तुतं शृणु चादरात्

tallīlayākhilaṁ viśvaṁ sṛjyate pālyate tathā vināśyate muniśreṣṭha prastutaṁ śṛṇu cādarāt

By his mere play the whole universe is created, sustained, and likewise destroyed, O best of sages. Now hear, with reverence, what I am about to relate.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.131.9)

उद्वाहिते शिवे चात्र कैलासं च गते सति । कियता चैव कालेन जातो गणपतेर्भवः

udvāhite śive cātra kailāsaṁ ca gate sati kiyatā caiva kālena jāto gaṇapaterbhavaḥ

When Shiva had been married and had gone to Kailasa, after some time had passed, the birth of Ganapati came to be.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.131.10)

एकस्मिन्नेव काले च जया च विजया सखी । पार्वत्या च मिलित्वा वै विचारे तत्पराभवत्

ekasminneva kāle ca jayā ca vijayā sakhī pārvatyā ca militvā vai vicāre tatparābhavat

At one and the same time, Jaya and Vijaya, her two friends, meeting together with Parvati, became absorbed in a certain deliberation.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.131.11)

रुद्रस्य च गणाःसर्वे शिवस्याज्ञापरायणाः । ते सर्वेऽप्यस्मदीयाश्च नन्दिभृङ्गिपुरस्सराः

rudrasya ca gaṇāḥsarve śivasyājñāparāyaṇāḥ te sarve'pyasmadīyāśca nandibhṛṅgipurassarāḥ

[They said:] All of Rudra's ganas, devoted wholly to Shiva's command, headed by Nandi and Bhringi -- all of these too are said to be ours.

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.131.12)

प्रमथास्ते ह्यसङ्ख्याता अस्मदीयो न कश्चन । द्वारि तिष्ठन्ति ते सर्वे शङ्कराज्ञापरायणाः

pramathāste hyasaṅkhyātā asmadīyo na kaścana dvāri tiṣṭhanti te sarve śaṅkarājñāparāyaṇāḥ

Those countless pramathas, none of whom is truly our own, all stand at the door, devoted only to Shankara's command.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.131.13)

ते सर्वेप्यस्मदीयांश्च तथापि न मिलेन्मनः । एकश्चैवास्मदीयो हि रचनीयस्त्वयानघे

te sarvepyasmadīyāṁśca tathāpi na milenmanaḥ ekaścaivāsmadīyo hi racanīyastvayānaghe

Though all of them are counted as ours too, our minds still do not feel at ease. One who is truly and wholly our own alone must be created by you, O sinless one.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.131.14)

ब्रह्मोवाच इत्युक्त्वा पार्वती देवी सखीभ्यां सुन्दरं वचः । हितं मेने तदा तच्च कर्तुं स्माप्यध्यवस्यति

brahmovāca ityuktvā pārvatī devī sakhībhyāṁ sundaraṁ vacaḥ hitaṁ mene tadā tacca kartuṁ smāpyadhyavasyati

Brahma said: Having heard this beautiful counsel spoken by her two friends, the goddess Parvati considered it wholesome, and resolved indeed to act upon it.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.131.15)

ततः कदाचिन्मज्जत्यां पार्वत्यां वै सदाशिवः । नन्दिनं परिभर्त्स्याथ ह्याजगाम गृहान्तरम्

tataḥ kadācinmajjatyāṁ pārvatyāṁ vai sadāśivaḥ nandinaṁ paribhartsyātha hyājagāma gṛhāntaram

Then one time, while Parvati was bathing, Sadashiva, having rebuked Nandi, came into the inner chamber of the house.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.131.16)

आयान्तं शङ्करं दृष्ट्वाऽसमये जगदम्बिका । उत्तस्थौ मज्जती सा वै लज्जिता सुन्दरी तदा

āyāntaṁ śaṅkaraṁ dṛṣṭvā'samaye jagadambikā uttasthau majjatī sā vai lajjitā sundarī tadā

Seeing Shankara arrive at an untimely moment, the Mother of the universe, then bathing, that beautiful one, rose up in shame.

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.131.17)

तस्मिन्नवसरे देवी कौतुकेनातिसंयुता । तदीयं तद्वचश्चैव हितं मेने सुखावहम्

tasminnavasare devī kautukenātisaṁyutā tadīyaṁ tadvacaścaiva hitaṁ mene sukhāvaham

At that very moment, the goddess, filled with great curiosity, considered that counsel of her friends to be wholesome and conducive to happiness.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.131.18)

एवं जाते तदा काले कदाचित्पार्वती शिवा । विचिन्त्य मनसा चेति परमाया परेश्वरी

evaṁ jāte tadā kāle kadācitpārvatī śivā vicintya manasā ceti paramāyā pareśvarī

Thus, when that occasion had arisen, Parvati, the auspicious one, the supreme Maya, the Supreme Goddess, once reflected thus in her mind:

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.131.19)

मदीयः सेवकः कश्चिद्भवेच्छुभतरः कृती । मदाज्ञया परं नान्यद्रेखामात्रं चलेदिह

madīyaḥ sevakaḥ kaścidbhavecchubhataraḥ kṛtī madājñayā paraṁ nānyadrekhāmātraṁ calediha

'Let there be some servant who is entirely my own, most auspicious and accomplished, who moves not even a hair's breadth beyond my own command.'

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.131.20)

विचार्येति च सा देवी वपुषो मलसम्भवम् । पुरुषं निर्ममौ सा तु सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम्

vicāryeti ca sā devī vapuṣo malasambhavam puruṣaṁ nirmamau sā tu sarvalakṣaṇasaṁyutam

Reflecting thus, that goddess fashioned, from the impurity of her own body, a male being, endowed with every auspicious mark.

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.131.21)

सर्वावयवनिर्दोषं सर्वावयव सुन्दरम् । विशालं सर्वशोभाढ्यं महाबलपराक्रमम्

sarvāvayavanirdoṣaṁ sarvāvayava sundaram viśālaṁ sarvaśobhāḍhyaṁ mahābalaparākramam

Faultless in every limb, beautiful in every limb, of great stature, replete with every splendor, of tremendous strength and valor.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.131.22)

वस्त्राणि च तदा तस्मै दत्त्वा सा विविधानि हि । नानालङ्करणं चैव बह्वाशिषमनुत्तमाम्

vastrāṇi ca tadā tasmai dattvā sā vividhāni hi nānālaṅkaraṇaṁ caiva bahvāśiṣamanuttamām

She then gave him various garments, and many kinds of ornaments, and abundant, incomparable blessing.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.131.23)

मत्पुत्रस्त्वं मदीयोऽसि नान्यः कश्चिदिहास्ति मे । एवमुक्तः स पुरुषो नमस्कृत्य शिवां जगौ

matputrastvaṁ madīyo'si nānyaḥ kaścidihāsti me evamuktaḥ sa puruṣo namaskṛtya śivāṁ jagau

'You are my son, you are wholly mine; there is none other here who is mine.' Thus addressed, that being bowed to Shiva [Parvati] and spoke.

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.131.24)

गणेश उवाच किं कार्यं विद्यते तेऽद्य करवाणि तवोदितम् । इत्युक्ता सा तदा तेन प्रत्युवाच सुतं शिवा

gaṇeśa uvāca kiṁ kāryaṁ vidyate te'dya karavāṇi tavoditam ityuktā sā tadā tena pratyuvāca sutaṁ śivā

Ganesha said: 'What task do you have for me today? I shall do whatever you command.' Thus addressed by him, Shiva [Parvati] then replied to her son.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.131.25)

शिवोवाच हे तात शृणु मद्वाक्यं द्वारपालो भवाद्य मे । मत्पुत्रस्त्वं मदीयोऽसि नान्यथा कश्चिदस्ति मे

śivovāca he tāta śṛṇu madvākyaṁ dvārapālo bhavādya me matputrastvaṁ madīyo'si nānyathā kaścidasti me

Shiva [Parvati] said: 'O dear one, hear my word: become today my doorkeeper. You are my son, you are wholly mine; none other belongs to me.'

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.131.26)

विना मदाज्ञां सत्पुत्र नैवायान्मद्गृहान्तरम् । कोऽपि क्वापि हठात्तात सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

vinā madājñāṁ satputra naivāyānmadgṛhāntaram ko'pi kvāpi haṭhāttāta satyametanmayoditam

'Without my command, O good son, let no one whatsoever forcibly enter into my house, wherever it may be, O dear one -- this I say in truth.'

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.131.27)

ब्रह्मोवाच इत्युक्त्वा च ददौ तस्मै यष्टिं चातिदृढां मुने । तदीयं रूपमालोक्य सुन्दरं हर्षमागता

brahmovāca ityuktvā ca dadau tasmai yaṣṭiṁ cātidṛḍhāṁ mune tadīyaṁ rūpamālokya sundaraṁ harṣamāgatā

Brahma said: Having said this, O sage, she gave him a very sturdy staff; and beholding his beautiful form, she was filled with joy.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.131.28)

मुखमाचुम्ब्य सुप्रीत्यालिङ्ग्य तं कृपया सुतम् । स्वद्वारि स्थापयामास यष्टिपाणिं गणाधिपम्

mukhamācumbya suprītyāliṅgya taṁ kṛpayā sutam svadvāri sthāpayāmāsa yaṣṭipāṇiṁ gaṇādhipam

Kissing his face with deep affection, and embracing that son with compassion, she stationed him, staff in hand, as lord of the ganas, at her own door.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.131.29)

अथ देवीसुतस्तात गृहद्वारि स्थितो गणः । यष्टिपाणिर्महावीरः पार्वतीहितकाम्यया

atha devīsutastāta gṛhadvāri sthito gaṇaḥ yaṣṭipāṇirmahāvīraḥ pārvatīhitakāmyayā

Then, O dear one, the goddess's son, that great hero, stood at the door of the house, staff in hand, out of desire for Parvati's welfare.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.131.30)

स्वद्वारि स्थापयित्वा तं गणेशं स्वसुतं शिवा । स्वयं च मज्जती सा वै संस्थितासीत्सखीयुता

svadvāri sthāpayitvā taṁ gaṇeśaṁ svasutaṁ śivā svayaṁ ca majjatī sā vai saṁsthitāsītsakhīyutā

Having stationed that Ganesha, her own son, at her door, Shiva [Parvati] herself, still bathing, remained there together with her friends.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.131.31)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु शिवो द्वारि समागतः । कौतुकी मुनिर्शादूल नानालीलाविशारदः

etasminneva kāle tu śivo dvāri samāgataḥ kautukī munirśādūla nānālīlāviśāradaḥ

At that very moment, Shiva, playful, master of many kinds of divine sport, came to the door.

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.131.32)

उवाच च शिवेशं तमविज्ञाय गणाधिपः । मातुराज्ञां विना देव गम्यतां न त्वयाधुना

uvāca ca śiveśaṁ tamavijñāya gaṇādhipaḥ māturājñāṁ vinā deva gamyatāṁ na tvayādhunā

And the lord of the ganas, not recognizing him, said to Shiva, the Lord: 'O God, without my mother's command you shall not enter now.'

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.131.33)

मज्जनार्थं स्थिता माता क्व यासीतो व्रजाधुना । इत्युक्त्वा यष्टिकां तस्य रोधनाय तदाग्रहीत्

majjanārthaṁ sthitā mātā kva yāsīto vrajādhunā ityuktvā yaṣṭikāṁ tasya rodhanāya tadāgrahīt

'My mother is engaged in bathing; where would you go from here? Go elsewhere now.' Having said this, he raised his staff to block him.

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.131.34)

तं दृष्ट्वा तु शिवः प्राह कं निषेधसि मूढधीः । मां न जानास्यसद्बुद्धे शिवोऽहमिति नान्यथा

taṁ dṛṣṭvā tu śivaḥ prāha kaṁ niṣedhasi mūḍhadhīḥ māṁ na jānāsyasadbuddhe śivo'hamiti nānyathā

Seeing him, Shiva said: 'Whom do you forbid, O dull-witted one? You do not know me, O foolish one -- I am Shiva, and none other.'

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.131.35)

ताडितस्तेन यष्ट्या हि गणेशेन महेश्वरः । प्रत्युवाच स तं पुत्रं बहुलीलश्च कोपितः

tāḍitastena yaṣṭyā hi gaṇeśena maheśvaraḥ pratyuvāca sa taṁ putraṁ bahulīlaśca kopitaḥ

Struck by that staff by Ganesha, Maheshvara, who delights in many kinds of sport, being provoked, replied to that son.

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.131.36)

शिव उवाच मुर्खोऽसि त्वं न जानासि शिवोऽहं गिरिजापतिः । स्वगृहं यामि रे बाल निषेधसि कथं हि माम्

śiva uvāca murkho'si tvaṁ na jānāsi śivo'haṁ girijāpatiḥ svagṛhaṁ yāmi re bāla niṣedhasi kathaṁ hi mām

Shiva said: 'You are a fool; you do not know that I am Shiva, the husband of Girija. I am going to my own house; why, O boy, do you forbid me?'

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.131.37)

ब्रह्मोवाच इत्युक्त्वा प्रविशन्तं तं महेशं गणनायकः । क्रोधं कृत्वा ततो विप्र दण्डेनाताडयत्पुनः

brahmovāca ityuktvā praviśantaṁ taṁ maheśaṁ gaṇanāyakaḥ krodhaṁ kṛtvā tato vipra daṇḍenātāḍayatpunaḥ

Brahma said: Having said this, as Mahesha tried to enter, the lord of the ganas, O brahmin, filled with anger, then struck him again with his staff.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.131.38)

ततश्शिवश्च सङ्क्रुद्धो गणानाज्ञापयन्निजान् । को वाऽयं वर्तते किं च क्रियते पश्यतां गणाः

tataśśivaśca saṅkruddho gaṇānājñāpayannijān ko vā'yaṁ vartate kiṁ ca kriyate paśyatāṁ gaṇāḥ

Then Shiva, greatly enraged, commanded his own ganas: 'Who indeed is this, and what is he doing? Look at him, O ganas!'

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.131.39)

इत्युक्त्वा तु शिवस्तत्र स्थितः क्रुद्धो गृहाद्बहिः । भवाचाररतःस्वामी बह्वद्भुतसुलीलकः

ityuktvā tu śivastatra sthitaḥ kruddho gṛhādbahiḥ bhavācārarataḥsvāmī bahvadbhutasulīlakaḥ

Having said this, Shiva remained standing outside the house, enraged -- that Lord, delighting in worldly ways, source of many wondrous and delightful sports.