The Origin of the Ganapati Trio

Verse 1 (skanda.6.142.1)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ तथान्यदपि तत्रास्ति पुण्यं गणपतित्रयम् ॥ स्वर्गदं मर्त्यदं पुण्यं तथान्यन्नरकापहम्

sūta uvāca tathānyadapi tatrāsti puṇyaṁ gaṇapatitrayam svargadaṁ martyadaṁ puṇyaṁ tathānyannarakāpaham

Suta said: There too is another sacred thing — the Ganapati-trio (three forms of Ganapati), holy, bestowing heaven, bestowing a good mortal birth, and warding off hell.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.142.2)

हंतृ वै सर्वविघ्नानां पूजितं सुरदानवैः॥ सर्वकामप्रदं चैव विद्याकीर्तिविवर्धनम्

haṁtṛ vai sarvavighnānāṁ pūjitaṁ suradānavaiḥ sarvakāmapradaṁ caiva vidyākīrtivivardhanam

They are the destroyers of all obstacles, worshipped by gods and demons alike, granters of every desire, and increasers of learning and fame.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.142.3)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ ॥ त्रिविधाः पुरुषाः सूत जायंतेत्र महीतले ॥ उत्तमा मध्यमाश्चान्ये तथा चान्येऽधमाः स्थिताः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ trividhāḥ puruṣāḥ sūta jāyaṁtetra mahītale uttamā madhyamāścānye tathā cānye'dhamāḥ sthitāḥ

The sages said: O Suta, three kinds of men are born upon this earth — the best, the middling, and the lowest.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.142.4)

उत्तमाः प्रार्थयंति स्म मोक्षमेव हि केवलम् ॥ गता यत्र निवर्तंते न कथंचिद्धरातले

uttamāḥ prārthayaṁti sma mokṣameva hi kevalam gatā yatra nivartaṁte na kathaṁciddharātale

The best desire only liberation alone — having gone there, they never in any way return to this earth.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.142.5)

मध्यमाः स्वर्गमार्गं च दिव्यान्भोगान्मनोरमान् ॥ अप्सरोभिः समं क्रीडां यज्ञाद्यैः कर्मभिः कृताम्

madhyamāḥ svargamārgaṁ ca divyānbhogānmanoramān apsarobhiḥ samaṁ krīḍāṁ yajñādyaiḥ karmabhiḥ kṛtām

The middling desire the path of heaven, and the delightful celestial pleasures, and sport with the apsaras, all attained through sacrifice and other rites.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.142.6)

अधमा मर्त्यलोकेत्र रमंते विषयात्मकाः ॥ विषकीटकवत्तत्र रतिं कृत्वा गरीयसीम्

adhamā martyaloketra ramaṁte viṣayātmakāḥ viṣakīṭakavattatra ratiṁ kṛtvā garīyasīm

The lowest, absorbed in sense-objects, take their delight in this very mortal world alone, forming an attachment there as gross as a poisonous insect's.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.142.7)

स्वर्गमोक्षौ परित्यज्य तत्कस्मान्मर्त्य इष्यते ॥ येनासौ प्रार्थ्यते मर्त्यैर्मर्त्यदो गणनायकः

svargamokṣau parityajya tatkasmānmartya iṣyate yenāsau prārthyate martyairmartyado gaṇanāyakaḥ

Abandoning both heaven and liberation, then why is a mortal birth desired by men — for whose sake they entreat the lord of the ganas known as Martyada, the giver of a mortal birth?

Verse 8 (skanda.6.142.8)

केन संस्थापितास्ते च तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे गजाननाः ॥ कस्मिन्काले च द्रष्टव्याः सर्वं विस्तरतो वद

kena saṁsthāpitāste ca tasminkṣetre gajānanāḥ kasminkāle ca draṣṭavyāḥ sarvaṁ vistarato vada

By whom were those elephant-faced ones established in that sacred field, and at what time should they be beheld? Tell us all this in full detail.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.142.9)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ पूर्वं तप्त्वा तपस्तीव्रं मर्त्यलोके द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ ततो गच्छंति संहृष्टाः स्वेच्छया त्रिदिवं प्रति ॥ मोक्षमार्गं तथैवान्ये ध्यानाविष्कृतमानसाः

sūta uvāca pūrvaṁ taptvā tapastīvraṁ martyaloke dvijottamāḥ tato gacchaṁti saṁhṛṣṭāḥ svecchayā tridivaṁ prati mokṣamārgaṁ tathaivānye dhyānāviṣkṛtamānasāḥ

Suta said: O best of brahmins, having first performed intense austerity in the mortal world, some go joyfully at will toward heaven, while others, their minds unveiled through meditation, go by the path of liberation.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.142.10)

ततः स्वर्गे समाकीर्णे कदाचिन्मनुजोत्तमैः ॥ देवेषु क्षिप्यमाणेषु समंतात्तत्प्रभावतः

tataḥ svarge samākīrṇe kadācinmanujottamaiḥ deveṣu kṣipyamāṇeṣu samaṁtāttatprabhāvataḥ

Then, when heaven at times became crowded with these excellent men, the gods, by their very power, began to be pushed aside on every side.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.142.11)

गत्वा स्वयं सहस्राक्षः सर्वैर्देवगणैः सह ॥ प्रोवाच शंकरं गौर्या सार्धमेकासनस्थितम्

gatvā svayaṁ sahasrākṣaḥ sarvairdevagaṇaiḥ saha provāca śaṁkaraṁ gauryā sārdhamekāsanasthitam

Then Sahasraksha (Indra) himself, going with all the hosts of gods, spoke to Shankara, who was seated on one seat together with Gauri.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.142.12)

॥ इन्द्र उवाच ॥ ॥ तपःप्रभावसंसिद्धैर्मानवैः परमेश्वर ॥ अस्माकं व्याप्यते सर्वं महिमानं गृहादिकम्

indra uvāca tapaḥprabhāvasaṁsiddhairmānavaiḥ parameśvara asmākaṁ vyāpyate sarvaṁ mahimānaṁ gṛhādikam

Indra said: O Supreme Lord, by men perfected through the power of austerity, all our majesty — our very abodes and the rest — is being overrun.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.142.13)

तस्मात्कृत्वा प्रसादं नः कंचिच्चिंतय सांप्रतम् ॥ उपायं येन तिष्ठामः सौख्येनात्र शिवालये

tasmātkṛtvā prasādaṁ naḥ kaṁcicciṁtaya sāṁpratam upāyaṁ yena tiṣṭhāmaḥ saukhyenātra śivālaye

Therefore show us grace and consider some means right now, by which we may dwell happily here in your abode.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.142.14)

अथ श्रुत्वा विरूपाक्षस्तेषां तद्वचनं द्विजाः ॥ पार्वत्याः पार्श्वसंस्थाया मुखचन्द्रं समैक्षयत्

atha śrutvā virūpākṣasteṣāṁ tadvacanaṁ dvijāḥ pārvatyāḥ pārśvasaṁsthāyā mukhacandraṁ samaikṣayat

O brahmins, hearing their words, Virupaksha (Shiva) then looked toward the moon-like face of Parvati, seated at his side.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.142.15)

निजगात्रं ततो देवी सुसंमर्द्य मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ मलमाहृत्य तं कृत्स्नं चक्रे नागमुखं ततः

nijagātraṁ tato devī susaṁmardya muhurmuhuḥ malamāhṛtya taṁ kṛtsnaṁ cakre nāgamukhaṁ tataḥ

Then the Goddess, rubbing her own body again and again, gathered up all that dust, and from it fashioned an elephant-faced figure.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.142.16)

चतुर्हस्तं महाकायं लंबोदरसमन्वितम् ॥ सुकौतुककरं तेषां सर्वेषां च दिवौकसाम्

caturhastaṁ mahākāyaṁ laṁbodarasamanvitam sukautukakaraṁ teṣāṁ sarveṣāṁ ca divaukasām

Four-armed, massive of body, and possessed of a great pot-belly, he was a wondrous marvel to all those dwellers of heaven.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.142.17)

ततः स विनयादाह देवीं शिखरवासिनीम् ॥ यदर्थमंब सृष्टोऽहं तत्कार्यं वद मा चिरम्

tataḥ sa vinayādāha devīṁ śikharavāsinīm yadarthamaṁba sṛṣṭo'haṁ tatkāryaṁ vada mā ciram

Then he humbly said to the Goddess who dwells on the peak: O Mother, tell me without delay the task for whose sake I have been created.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.142.18)

त्रैलोक्ये त्वत्प्रसादेन नासाध्यं विद्यते मम

trailokye tvatprasādena nāsādhyaṁ vidyate mama

By your grace, nothing in the three worlds is beyond my power to accomplish.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.142.19)

॥ श्रीदेव्युवाच ॥ ॥ मर्त्यलोके नरा ये च स्वर्गमोक्षपराः सदा ॥ तेषां विघ्नं त्वया कार्यं शुभकृत्येषु चैव हि

śrīdevyuvāca martyaloke narā ye ca svargamokṣaparāḥ sadā teṣāṁ vighnaṁ tvayā kāryaṁ śubhakṛtyeṣu caiva hi

The Goddess said: You must create obstacles, in their auspicious undertakings, for those men in the mortal world who are always intent upon heaven and liberation.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.142.20)

सरितां पतयस्त्रिंशच्छंकवः सप्तसप्ततिः ॥ महासरोजषष्टिश्च निखर्वाणां च विंशतिः

saritāṁ patayastriṁśacchaṁkavaḥ saptasaptatiḥ mahāsarojaṣaṣṭiśca nikharvāṇāṁ ca viṁśatiḥ

Thirty-seven shankus, together with the lords of the rivers, sixty mahasarojas, and twenty nikharvas — so many ganas are given to you.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.142.21)

अर्बुदायुतसंयुक्ताः कोट्यो नवतिपञ्च च ॥ लक्षाश्च पंचपंचाशत्सहस्राः पंचविंशतिः॥ शतानि नवषष्टिश्च गणाश्चान्येऽत्र संस्थिताः

arbudāyutasaṁyuktāḥ koṭyo navatipañca ca lakṣāśca paṁcapaṁcāśatsahasrāḥ paṁcaviṁśatiḥ śatāni navaṣaṣṭiśca gaṇāścānye'tra saṁsthitāḥ

Ninety-five koti joined with arbudas and ayutas, twenty-five lakhs and fifty-five thousand more, and nine hundred and sixty besides — so many other ganas are stationed here.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.142.22)

येषां नदी स्मृतः पूर्वो महाकालस्तथा परः॥ ते सर्वे वशगास्तुभ्यं प्रभवंतु गणोत्तमाः

yeṣāṁ nadī smṛtaḥ pūrvo mahākālastathā paraḥ te sarve vaśagāstubhyaṁ prabhavaṁtu gaṇottamāḥ

Of whom the first is remembered by the name of the river, and the other as Mahakala — let all of these, O foremost of ganas, come under your sway and be subject to you.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.142.23)

आधिपत्यं मया दत्तं तव वत्स कुरुष्व तत् ॥ सर्वेषां गणवृंदानामाधिपत्ये व्यवस्थितः

ādhipatyaṁ mayā dattaṁ tava vatsa kuruṣva tat sarveṣāṁ gaṇavṛṁdānāmādhipatye vyavasthitaḥ

O child, I have given you this overlordship; take it up, established as lord over all the hosts of ganas.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.142.24)

एवमुक्त्वाथ सा देवी समानीयौषधीभृतान् ॥ हेमकुंभान्सुतीर्थांभः परिपूर्णान्महोदयान्

evamuktvātha sā devī samānīyauṣadhībhṛtān hemakuṁbhānsutīrthāṁbhaḥ paripūrṇānmahodayān

Having said this, the Goddess then had brought golden vessels, laden with medicinal herbs and filled to the brim with water from sacred fords, most auspicious.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.142.25)

तस्याभिषेचनं चक्रे स्वयमेव सुरेश्वरी ॥ गीतवाद्यविनोदेन नृत्यमंगलजैः स्वनैः

tasyābhiṣecanaṁ cakre svayameva sureśvarī gītavādyavinodena nṛtyamaṁgalajaiḥ svanaiḥ

That Goddess herself performed his consecration, amid song, music, festivity, dance, and sounds of auspiciousness.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.142.26)

त्रयस्त्रिंशत्स्मृताः कोटयो देवानां याः स्थिता दिवि ॥ ताः सर्वास्तत्र चागत्य तस्य चक्रुश्च मंगलम्

trayastriṁśatsmṛtāḥ koṭayo devānāṁ yāḥ sthitā divi tāḥ sarvāstatra cāgatya tasya cakruśca maṁgalam

The thirty-three crores of gods remembered as dwelling in heaven all came there and performed the auspicious rite for him.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.142.27)

अथ तस्य ददौ तुष्टो भगवान्वृषभध्वजः ॥ कुठारं निशितं हस्ते सदा वै श्रेष्ठमायुधम्

atha tasya dadau tuṣṭo bhagavānvṛṣabhadhvajaḥ kuṭhāraṁ niśitaṁ haste sadā vai śreṣṭhamāyudham

Then the pleased Lord Vrishabhadhvaja gave into his hand a sharp axe, which ever remained his foremost weapon.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.142.28)

पात्रं मोदकसंपूर्णमक्षयं चैव पार्वती ॥ भोजनार्थे महाभागा मातृस्नेहपरायणा

pātraṁ modakasaṁpūrṇamakṣayaṁ caiva pārvatī bhojanārthe mahābhāgā mātṛsnehaparāyaṇā

The great and blessed Parvati, given over to maternal affection, gave him an inexhaustible bowl full of sweet modakas for his food.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.142.29)

मूषकं कार्तिकेयस्तु वाहनार्थं प्रहर्षितः ॥ भ्रातरं मन्यमानस्तु बन्धुस्नेहेन संयुतः

mūṣakaṁ kārtikeyastu vāhanārthaṁ praharṣitaḥ bhrātaraṁ manyamānastu bandhusnehena saṁyutaḥ

Kartikeya, delighted, regarding him as his brother and filled with brotherly affection, gave him the mouse as his mount.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.142.30)

ज्ञानं दिव्यं ददौ ब्रह्मा तस्मै हृष्टेन चेतसा ॥ अतीतानागतं चैव वर्तमानं च यद्भवेत्

jñānaṁ divyaṁ dadau brahmā tasmai hṛṣṭena cetasā atītānāgataṁ caiva vartamānaṁ ca yadbhavet

Brahma, with a joyful heart, gave him divine knowledge of all that was, all that is to be, and all that is present.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.142.31)

प्रज्ञां विष्णुः सहस्राक्षः सौभाग्यं चोत्तमं महत्॥ सौभाग्यं कामदेवस्तु कुबेरो विभवादिकम्

prajñāṁ viṣṇuḥ sahasrākṣaḥ saubhāgyaṁ cottamaṁ mahat saubhāgyaṁ kāmadevastu kubero vibhavādikam

Sahasraksha (Indra) gave him wisdom and supreme, great good fortune; Kamadeva gave him charm; and Kubera gave him wealth and its like.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.142.32)

प्रतापं भगवान्सूर्यः कांतिमग्र्यां निशाकरः

pratāpaṁ bhagavānsūryaḥ kāṁtimagryāṁ niśākaraḥ

The Lord Surya gave him splendor, and Nishakara (the Moon) gave him supreme radiance.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.142.33)

तथान्ये विबुधाः सर्वे ददुरिष्टानि भूरिशः॥ आत्मीयानि प्रतुष्ट्यर्थं देव्या देवस्य च प्रभोः

tathānye vibudhāḥ sarve daduriṣṭāni bhūriśaḥ ātmīyāni pratuṣṭyarthaṁ devyā devasya ca prabhoḥ

In this way all the other gods too, for the satisfaction of the Goddess and the Lord, gave abundantly of their own cherished gifts.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.142.34)

एवं लब्धवरः सोऽथ गणनाथो द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ देवकृत्यपरो नित्यं चक्रे विघ्नानि भूतले

evaṁ labdhavaraḥ so'tha gaṇanātho dvijottamāḥ devakṛtyaparo nityaṁ cakre vighnāni bhūtale

O best of brahmins, thus, having obtained these boons, that lord of the ganas, ever devoted to the tasks of the gods, began creating obstacles upon the earth.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.142.35)

धर्मार्थं यतमानानां मोक्षाय सुकृताय च ॥ ततो भूमितलेऽभ्येत्य गणेशस्तत्र यः स्मृतः

dharmārthaṁ yatamānānāṁ mokṣāya sukṛtāya ca tato bhūmitale'bhyetya gaṇeśastatra yaḥ smṛtaḥ

Obstacles for those striving after dharma, for liberation, and for meritorious deeds. Then, coming down to the surface of the earth, the Ganesha who is remembered there —

Verse 36 (skanda.6.142.36)

वैमानिकैः समभ्येत्य स्थापितस्तत्र स द्विजाः ॥ येन स्वर्गार्थिनो लोकाः पूजां तस्य प्रचक्रिरे ॥ प्रथमं सर्वकृत्येषु विघ्ननाशाय तत्पराः

vaimānikaiḥ samabhyetya sthāpitastatra sa dvijāḥ yena svargārthino lokāḥ pūjāṁ tasya pracakrire prathamaṁ sarvakṛtyeṣu vighnanāśāya tatparāḥ

O brahmins, coming together with those who travel by celestial chariots, he was installed there, and people desiring heaven began to worship him first in every undertaking, intent on the destruction of obstacles.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.142.37)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले च चमत्कारपुरोद्भवैः ॥ ब्राह्मणैर्ब्रह्मविज्ञानतत्परैर्मोक्षहेतुभिः ॥ ईशानः स्थापितस्तत्र मोक्षदो य उदाहृतः

etasminneva kāle ca camatkārapurodbhavaiḥ brāhmaṇairbrahmavijñānatatparairmokṣahetubhiḥ īśānaḥ sthāpitastatra mokṣado ya udāhṛtaḥ

At this very time, by brahmins born in Chamatkarapura, devoted to the knowledge of Brahman and seeking liberation, Ishana was installed there, said to be the bestower of liberation.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.142.38)

स्वर्गं वाञ्छद्भिरेवान्यैः स्वर्गद्वारप्रदस्तथा ॥ हेरंबः स्थापितस्तत्र सत्यनामा यथोदितः

svargaṁ vāñchadbhirevānyaiḥ svargadvārapradastathā heraṁbaḥ sthāpitastatra satyanāmā yathoditaḥ

And by other people who desired heaven, Heramba was installed there — the giver of the gateway to heaven, truly named as declared.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.142.39)

तथान्यैर्मर्त्यदो नाम गणैशस्तत्र यः स्थितः॥ येन स्वर्गाच्च्युता यांति न कदा नरकादिकम्॥ तिर्यक्त्वं वा कृमित्वं वा स्थावरत्वमथापि वा

tathānyairmartyado nāma gaṇaiśastatra yaḥ sthitaḥ yena svargāccyutā yāṁti na kadā narakādikam tiryaktvaṁ vā kṛmitvaṁ vā sthāvaratvamathāpi vā

And by yet others, the lord of ganas called Martyada was stationed there, by whose power those fallen from heaven never attain hell, nor animal birth, nor insect birth, nor even the fixed existence of a plant.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.142.40)

एतस्मात्कारणात्तत्र क्षेत्रे पुण्ये द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ हेरम्बो मर्त्यदो जातः स्वर्गिणां मर्त्यदः सदा

etasmātkāraṇāttatra kṣetre puṇye dvijottamāḥ herambo martyado jātaḥ svargiṇāṁ martyadaḥ sadā

For this reason, O best of brahmins, in that sacred field Heramba became known as Martyada — ever the giver of a good mortal birth to the dwellers of heaven.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.142.41)

एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं पुण्यं हेरंबसंभवम् ॥ आख्यानं सर्वविघ्नानि यन्निहन्ति श्रुतं नृणाम्

etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṁ puṇyaṁ heraṁbasaṁbhavam ākhyānaṁ sarvavighnāni yannihanti śrutaṁ nṛṇām

This entire holy account of Heramba's origin has now been told to you — a narrative which, merely by being heard, destroys all obstacles for men.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.142.42)

एतन्माघचतुर्थां यः शुक्लायां पूजयेन्नरः ॥ न तस्य वत्सरं यावद्विघ्नं सञ्जायते क्वचित्

etanmāghacaturthāṁ yaḥ śuklāyāṁ pūjayennaraḥ na tasya vatsaraṁ yāvadvighnaṁ sañjāyate kvacit

Whoever worships this on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Magha — for him, throughout the whole year, no obstacle whatsoever ever arises.