The Establishment of Ganesha

Verse 1 (skanda.3.64.1)

व्यास उवाच । ततो देवैर्नृपश्रेष्ठ रक्षार्थं सत्यमंदिरम् । स्थापितं तत्तदाद्यैव सत्याभिख्या हि सा पुरी

vyāsa uvāca tato devairnṛpaśreṣṭha rakṣārthaṁ satyamaṁdiram sthāpitaṁ tattadādyaiva satyābhikhyā hi sā purī

Vyasa said: Then, O best of kings, Satyamandira was established by the gods for the sake of protection; and from that very time, that city bore the name "Satya."

Verse 2 (skanda.3.64.2)

पूर्वं धर्मेश्वरो देवो दक्षिणेन गणाधिपः । पश्चिमे स्थापितो भानुरुत्तरे च स्वयंभुवः

pūrvaṁ dharmeśvaro devo dakṣiṇena gaṇādhipaḥ paścime sthāpito bhānuruttare ca svayaṁbhuvaḥ

In the east was the god Dharmeshvara; on the south, the Lord of the ganas; in the west was established Bhanu, the sun; and in the north, Svayambhu.

Verse 3 (skanda.3.64.3)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । गणेशः स्थापितः केन कस्मात्स्थापितवानसौ । किं नामासौ महाभाग तन्मे कथय मा चिरम्

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca gaṇeśaḥ sthāpitaḥ kena kasmātsthāpitavānasau kiṁ nāmāsau mahābhāga tanme kathaya mā ciram

Yudhishthira said: By whom was Ganesha established, and for what reason was he set up here? O illustrious one, tell me this at once, without delay.

Verse 4 (skanda.3.64.4)

व्यास उवाच । अधुनाहं प्रवक्ष्यामि गणेशोत्पत्तिकारणम्

vyāsa uvāca adhunāhaṁ pravakṣyāmi gaṇeśotpattikāraṇam

Vyasa said: Now I shall tell you the cause of Ganesha's origin.

Verse 5 (skanda.3.64.5)

समये मिलिताः सर्वे देवता मातरस्तथा । धर्मारण्ये महाराज स्थापितश्चंडिकासुतः

samaye militāḥ sarve devatā mātarastathā dharmāraṇye mahārāja sthāpitaścaṁḍikāsutaḥ

At the proper time, all the gods, together with the mother-goddesses, assembled; and, O great king, the son of Chandika was established in Dharmaranya.

Verse 6 (skanda.3.64.6)

आदौ देवैर्नृपश्रेष्ठ भूमौ वै सत्ययोषिताम् । प्राकारश्चाभवत्तत्र पताकाध्वजशोभितः

ādau devairnṛpaśreṣṭha bhūmau vai satyayoṣitām prākāraścābhavattatra patākādhvajaśobhitaḥ

First, O best of kings, upon that ground of the city of Satya, the gods raised a rampart, adorned with banners and flags.

Verse 7 (skanda.3.64.7)

ब्राह्मणायतने तत्र प्राकारमण्डलान्तरे । तन्मध्ये रचितं पीठमिष्टकाभिः सुशोभितम्

brāhmaṇāyatane tatra prākāramaṇḍalāntare tanmadhye racitaṁ pīṭhamiṣṭakābhiḥ suśobhitam

There, at the brahmin sanctuary within the enclosure of the rampart, a pedestal was raised in its midst, beautifully finished with bricks.

Verse 8 (skanda.3.64.8)

प्रतोल्यश्च चतस्रो वै शुद्धा एव सतोरणाः । पूर्वे धर्मेश्वरो देवो दक्षिणे गणनायकः

pratolyaśca catasro vai śuddhā eva satoraṇāḥ pūrve dharmeśvaro devo dakṣiṇe gaṇanāyakaḥ

And four pure gateways, adorned with arches; in the east, the god Dharmeshvara; in the south, the Lord of the ganas —

Verse 9 (skanda.3.64.9)

पश्चिमे स्थापितो भानुरुत्तरे च स्वयंभुवः । धर्मेश्वरोत्पत्तिवृत्तमाख्यातं तत्तवाग्रतः

paścime sthāpito bhānuruttare ca svayaṁbhuvaḥ dharmeśvarotpattivṛttamākhyātaṁ tattavāgrataḥ

— in the west was established Bhanu, and in the north, Svayambhu. The account of Dharmeshvara's origin has already been told to you before this.

Verse 10 (skanda.3.64.10)

अधुनाहं प्रवक्ष्यामि गणेशोत्पत्तिहेतुकम् । कदाचित्पार्वती गात्रोद्वर्त्तनं कृतवत्यभूत्

adhunāhaṁ pravakṣyāmi gaṇeśotpattihetukam kadācitpārvatī gātrodvarttanaṁ kṛtavatyabhūt

Now I shall tell the cause of Ganesha's origin. Once, Parvati was rubbing an unguent upon her body.

Verse 11 (skanda.3.64.11)

मलं तज्जनितं दृष्ट्वा हस्ते धृत्वा स्वगात्रजम् । प्रतिमां च ततः कृत्वा सुरूपं च ददर्श ह

malaṁ tajjanitaṁ dṛṣṭvā haste dhṛtvā svagātrajam pratimāṁ ca tataḥ kṛtvā surūpaṁ ca dadarśa ha

Seeing the scurf that this produced, she took in her hand that which had come from her own body; and, fashioning it into an image, she beheld it take on a beautiful form.

Verse 12 (skanda.3.64.12)

जीवं तस्यां च संचार्य उदतिष्ठत्तदग्रतः । मातरं स तदोवाच कि करोमि तवाज्ञया

jīvaṁ tasyāṁ ca saṁcārya udatiṣṭhattadagrataḥ mātaraṁ sa tadovāca ki karomi tavājñayā

Infusing life into it, the figure rose up before her; and he then said to his mother: "What shall I do at your command?"

Verse 13 (skanda.3.64.13)

पार्वत्युवाच । यावत्स्नानं करिष्यामि तावत्त्वं द्वारि तिष्ठ मे । आयुधानि च सर्वाणि परश्वादीनि यानि तु

pārvatyuvāca yāvatsnānaṁ kariṣyāmi tāvattvaṁ dvāri tiṣṭha me āyudhāni ca sarvāṇi paraśvādīni yāni tu

Parvati said: While I bathe, you stand guard at my door; and take up all the weapons — the axe and the rest —

Verse 14 (skanda.3.64.14)

त्वयि तिष्ठति मद्द्वारे कोऽपि विघ्नं करोतु न । एवमुक्तो महादेव्या द्वारेऽतिष्ठत्स सायुधः

tvayi tiṣṭhati maddvāre ko'pi vighnaṁ karotu na evamukto mahādevyā dvāre'tiṣṭhatsa sāyudhaḥ

"— so that, while you stand at my door, no one may cause any disturbance." Thus instructed by the great goddess, he stood armed at the doorway.

Verse 15 (skanda.3.64.15)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवो महादेवो जगाम ह । आभ्यंतरे प्रवेष्टुं च मतिं दध्रे महेश्वरः

etasminnaṁtare devo mahādevo jagāma ha ābhyaṁtare praveṣṭuṁ ca matiṁ dadhre maheśvaraḥ

Meanwhile, the god Mahadeva arrived there; and Maheshvara resolved to enter within.

Verse 16 (skanda.3.64.16)

द्वारस्थेन गणेशेन प्रवेशोदायि तस्य न । ततः क्रुद्धो महादेवः परस्परमयुध्यत

dvārasthena gaṇeśena praveśodāyi tasya na tataḥ kruddho mahādevaḥ parasparamayudhyata

By Ganesha, who stood guard at the door, entry was refused to him. Then Mahadeva, enraged, fell to fighting with him.

Verse 17 (skanda.3.64.17)

युद्धं कृत्वा ततश्चोभौ परस्परवधैषिणौ । परशुं जघ्निवान्देव ललाटे परमे शुभम्

yuddhaṁ kṛtvā tataścobhau parasparavadhaiṣiṇau paraśuṁ jaghnivāndeva lalāṭe parame śubham

As they fought, both of them sought each other's destruction; and the god struck at the supremely auspicious forehead with the axe.

Verse 18 (skanda.3.64.18)

ततो देवो महादेवः शूलमुद्यम्य चाहनत् । शिरश्चिच्छेद शूलेन तद्भूमौ निपपात ह

tato devo mahādevaḥ śūlamudyamya cāhanat śiraściccheda śūlena tadbhūmau nipapāta ha

Then the god Mahadeva, raising his trident, struck him down; he severed the head with the trident, and it fell to the ground.

Verse 19 (skanda.3.64.19)

तं दृष्ट्वा पतितं पुत्रं पार्वती प्ररुरोद ह । हाहाकारो महानासीत्तदा तत्र निपातिते

taṁ dṛṣṭvā patitaṁ putraṁ pārvatī praruroda ha hāhākāro mahānāsīttadā tatra nipātite

Seeing her son fallen, Parvati wept bitterly; and a great cry of lamentation arose there when he had fallen.

Verse 20 (skanda.3.64.20)

पार्वतीं विकलां दृष्ट्वा देवदेवो महेश्वरः । चिंतयामास देवोऽपि किं कृतं वा मुधा मया

pārvatīṁ vikalāṁ dṛṣṭvā devadevo maheśvaraḥ ciṁtayāmāsa devo'pi kiṁ kṛtaṁ vā mudhā mayā

Seeing Parvati distraught, the god of gods, Maheshvara, himself thought: "What is this I have done, and to no purpose?"

Verse 21 (skanda.3.64.21)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे तत्र गजासुरमपश्यत । तं दृष्ट्वा च महादैत्यं सर्वलोकैकपूजितः

etasminnaṁtare tatra gajāsuramapaśyata taṁ dṛṣṭvā ca mahādaityaṁ sarvalokaikapūjitaḥ

Meanwhile, he caught sight there of the demon Gajasura; and, beholding that great daitya, he who alone is worshipped by all the worlds —

Verse 22 (skanda.3.64.22)

जघ्निवांस्तच्छिरो गृह्य पार्वत्या कृतमर्भकम् । उत्तस्थौ सगणस्तत्र महादेवस्य सन्निधौ

jaghnivāṁstacchiro gṛhya pārvatyā kṛtamarbhakam uttasthau sagaṇastatra mahādevasya sannidhau

— slew him, and, taking his head, fitted it upon the child whom Parvati had fashioned; and he rose up there, with his attendant hosts, in the presence of Mahadeva.

Verse 23 (skanda.3.64.23)

ततो नाम चकारास्य गजानन इति स्फुटम् । सुराः सर्वे च संपृक्ता हर्षिता मुनयस्तथा

tato nāma cakārāsya gajānana iti sphuṭam surāḥ sarve ca saṁpṛktā harṣitā munayastathā

Then his name was declared plainly to be Gajanana, the elephant-faced one; all the gods gathered together, and the sages too were filled with joy.

Verse 24 (skanda.3.64.24)

स्तुवंति स्तुतिभिः शश्वत्कुटुम्बकुशलंकरम् । विक्रीणाति कुटुम्बं यो मोदकार्थं समर्चके

stuvaṁti stutibhiḥ śaśvatkuṭumbakuśalaṁkaram vikrīṇāti kuṭumbaṁ yo modakārthaṁ samarcake

They praise him ever with hymns, him who brings well-being to every household — who, it is said, would sell his own household for the sake of a sweetmeat to his worshipper, so easily is he pleased by devotion.

Verse 25 (skanda.3.64.25)

दक्षिणस्यां प्रतोल्यां तमेकदंतं च पीवरम् । आर्चयच्च महादेवं स्वयंभूः सुरपूजितम्

dakṣiṇasyāṁ pratolyāṁ tamekadaṁtaṁ ca pīvaram ārcayacca mahādevaṁ svayaṁbhūḥ surapūjitam

At the southern gateway, that single-tusked, stout great god, revered by the gods, was worshipped by Svayambhu.

Verse 26 (skanda.3.64.26)

जटिलं वामनं चैव नागयज्ञोपवीतकम् । त्र्यक्षं चैव महाकायं करध्वजकुठारकम्

jaṭilaṁ vāmanaṁ caiva nāgayajñopavītakam tryakṣaṁ caiva mahākāyaṁ karadhvajakuṭhārakam

Matted-haired, and dwarfish, wearing a serpent for his sacred thread; three-eyed, of massive body, bearing an axe and banner in his hand.

Verse 27 (skanda.3.64.27)

दधानं कमलं हस्ते सर्वविप्रविनाशनम् । रक्षणाय च लोकानां नगराद्दक्षिणाश्रितम्

dadhānaṁ kamalaṁ haste sarvavipravināśanam rakṣaṇāya ca lokānāṁ nagarāddakṣiṇāśritam

Holding a lotus in his hand, the destroyer of every obstacle; stationed to the south of the city for the protection of the worlds.

Verse 28 (skanda.3.64.28)

सुप्रसन्नं गणाध्यक्षं सिद्धिबुद्धिनमस्कृतम् । सिंदूराभं सुरश्रेष्ठं तीव्रांकुशधरं शुभम्

suprasannaṁ gaṇādhyakṣaṁ siddhibuddhinamaskṛtam siṁdūrābhaṁ suraśreṣṭhaṁ tīvrāṁkuśadharaṁ śubham

Ever gracious, the Lord of the ganas, saluted by Siddhi and Buddhi; vermilion-hued, foremost among the gods, holding a sharp goad, auspicious.

Verse 29 (skanda.3.64.29)

शतपुष्पैः शुभैः पुष्पैरर्चितं ह्यमराधिपः । प्रणम्य च महाभक्त्या तुष्टुवु स्तं सुरास्ततः

śatapuṣpaiḥ śubhaiḥ puṣpairarcitaṁ hyamarādhipaḥ praṇamya ca mahābhaktyā tuṣṭuvu staṁ surāstataḥ

Worshipped with a hundred auspicious flowers by the lord of the immortals; and, bowing with great devotion, the gods then praised him.

Verse 30 (skanda.3.64.30)

देवा ऊचुः । नमस्तेस्तु सुरेशाय गणानां पतये नमः । गजानन नमस्तुभ्यं महादेवाधिदैवत

devā ūcuḥ namastestu sureśāya gaṇānāṁ pataye namaḥ gajānana namastubhyaṁ mahādevādhidaivata

The gods said: Salutations be to you, lord of the gods; salutations to the lord of the ganas! O Gajanana, salutations to you, presiding deity supreme even above Mahadeva.

Verse 31 (skanda.3.64.31)

भक्तिप्रियाय देवाय गणाध्यक्ष नमोस्तु ते । इत्येतैश्च शुभैः स्तोत्रैः स्तूयमानो गणाधिपः । सुप्रीतश्च गणाध्यक्षः तदाऽसौ वाक्यमब्रवीत्

bhaktipriyāya devāya gaṇādhyakṣa namostu te ityetaiśca śubhaiḥ stotraiḥ stūyamāno gaṇādhipaḥ suprītaśca gaṇādhyakṣaḥ tadā'sau vākyamabravīt

Salutations to you, O god who delights in devotion, O Lord of the ganas! Thus praised with these auspicious hymns, the Lord of the ganas, greatly pleased, then spoke these words.

Verse 32 (skanda.3.64.32)

गणाध्यक्ष उवाच । तुष्टोऽहं वो सुरा ब्रूत वांछितं च ददामि वः

gaṇādhyakṣa uvāca tuṣṭo'haṁ vo surā brūta vāṁchitaṁ ca dadāmi vaḥ

The Lord of the ganas said: I am well pleased with you, O gods; speak, and I shall grant you your desire.

Verse 33 (skanda.3.64.33)

देवा ऊचुः । त्वमत्रस्थो महाभाग कुरु कार्यं च नः प्रभो । धर्मारण्ये च विप्राणां वणिग्जननिवासिनाम्

devā ūcuḥ tvamatrastho mahābhāga kuru kāryaṁ ca naḥ prabho dharmāraṇye ca viprāṇāṁ vaṇigjananivāsinām

The gods said: O illustrious one, remain here and perform this task for us, O lord — for the brahmins of Dharmaranya, and for the merchant folk who dwell there —

Verse 34 (skanda.3.64.34)

ब्रह्मचर्यादियुक्तानां धार्मिकाणां गणेश्वर । वर्णाश्रमेतराणां च रक्षिता भव सर्वदा

brahmacaryādiyuktānāṁ dhārmikāṇāṁ gaṇeśvara varṇāśrametarāṇāṁ ca rakṣitā bhava sarvadā

"— O Lord of the ganas, for those devoted to brahmacharya and the like, the righteous, and for those of every varna and ashrama besides, be their protector always."

Verse 35 (skanda.3.64.35)

त्वत्प्रसादान्महाभाग धनसौख्ययुता द्विजाः । भवंतु सर्वे सततं वणिजश्च महाबलाः

tvatprasādānmahābhāga dhanasaukhyayutā dvijāḥ bhavaṁtu sarve satataṁ vaṇijaśca mahābalāḥ

"By your grace, O illustrious one, may all the brahmins ever be endowed with wealth and happiness, and the merchants ever remain mighty."

Verse 36 (skanda.3.64.36)

रक्षितव्यास्त्वया देव यावच्चंद्रार्कमेदिनी । एवमस्त्विति सोवादीद्गणनाथो महेश्वरः

rakṣitavyāstvayā deva yāvaccaṁdrārkamedinī evamastviti sovādīdgaṇanātho maheśvaraḥ

"They are to be protected by you, O god, for as long as the moon, the sun, and the earth shall endure." "So be it," said the great Lord of the ganas.

Verse 37 (skanda.3.64.37)

देवाश्च हर्षमापन्नाः पूजयंति गणाधिपम् । ततो देवा मुदा युक्ताः पुष्पधूपादितर्पणैः

devāśca harṣamāpannāḥ pūjayaṁti gaṇādhipam tato devā mudā yuktāḥ puṣpadhūpāditarpaṇaiḥ

And the gods, filled with joy, worshipped the Lord of the ganas; then the gods, glad at heart, with offerings of flowers, incense, and the rest —

Verse 38 (skanda.3.64.38)

ये चान्ये मनुजा लोके निर्विघ्नार्थं च पूजयन्

ye cānye manujā loke nirvighnārthaṁ ca pūjayan

— and whatever other men there are in the world worship him too, for the sake of being free from obstacles.

Verse 39 (skanda.3.64.39)

विवाहोत्सवयज्ञेषु पूर्वमाराधितो भवेत् । धर्मारण्योद्भवानां च प्रसन्नो भव सर्वदा

vivāhotsavayajñeṣu pūrvamārādhito bhavet dharmāraṇyodbhavānāṁ ca prasanno bhava sarvadā

In weddings, festivals, and sacrifices, he is to be worshipped first of all; and may he ever remain gracious toward those born of Dharmaranya.