Brahmavaivarta Purana — Ganapati Khanda — Chapter 1
BvP 3 1.1
श्रीगणेशाय नमः ।। श्रीमद्वेङ्कटेशाय नमः ।। श्रीगुरुभ्यो नमः ।। अथ ब्रह्मवैवर्त्ते महापुराणे तृतीयं गणपतिखण्डं प्रारभ्यते ।। नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् ।। देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत्
śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ || śrīmadveṅkaṭeśāya namaḥ || śrīgurubhyo namaḥ || atha brahmavaivartte mahāpurāṇe tṛtīyaṃ gaṇapatikhaṇḍaṃ prārabhyate || nārāyaṇaṃ namaskṛtya naraṃ caiva narottamam || devīṃ sarasvatīṃ vyāsaṃ tato jayamudīrayet
Homage to Śrī Gaṇeśa. Homage to the glorious Veṅkaṭeśa. Homage to the teachers. Here begins the third section, the Gaṇapati Section, in the great Purāṇa Brahmavaivarta. Having made obeisance to Nārāyaṇa and to Nara, the best of men, and to the goddess Sarasvatī and to Vyāsa, one should then utter "Victory!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.2
नारद उवाच ।। श्रुतं प्रकृति खण्डं तदमृतार्णवमुत्तमम् ।। सर्वोत्कृष्टमभीष्टं च मूढानां ज्ञानवर्दनम्
nārada uvāca || śrutaṃ prakṛti khaṇḍaṃ tadamṛtārṇavamuttamam || sarvotkṛṣṭamabhīṣṭaṃ ca mūḍhānāṃ jñānavardanam
Nārada said: I have heard that Prakṛti Section, that excellent ocean of nectar, the most surpassing of all, the desired one, which increases the knowledge of the dull-witted.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.3
अधुना श्रीगणेशस्य खण्डं श्रोतुमिहागतः ।। तज्जन्म चरितं नॄणां सर्वमङ्गलमङ्गलम्
adhunā śrīgaṇeśasya khaṇḍaṃ śrotumihāgataḥ || tajjanma caritaṃ nṝṇāṃ sarvamaṅgalamaṅgalam
Now I have come here to hear the section on Śrī Gaṇeśa — his birth and deeds, which are, for men, the auspiciousness of all auspicious things.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.4
कथं जज्ञे सुरश्रेष्ठः पार्वत्या उदरे शुभे ।। देवी केन प्रकारेण चालभत्तादृशं सुतम्।।
kathaṃ jajñe suraśreṣṭhaḥ pārvatyā udare śubhe || devī kena prakāreṇa cālabhattādṛśaṃ sutam||
How was the best of the gods born in the auspicious womb of Pārvatī? And in what manner did the Goddess obtain such a son?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.5
स चांशः कस्य देवस्य कथं जन्म ललाभ सः ।। अयोनिसम्भवः किं वा किं वाऽसौ योनिसम्भवः
sa cāṃśaḥ kasya devasya kathaṃ janma lalābha saḥ || ayonisambhavaḥ kiṃ vā kiṃ vā'sau yonisambhavaḥ
And of which god is he a portion? How did he obtain birth? Was he born without a womb, or was he born from a womb?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.6
किं वा तद्ब्रह्मतेजो वा किं तस्य च पराक्रमः ।। का तपस्या च कि ज्ञानं किं वा तन्निर्म्मलं यशः
kiṃ vā tadbrahmatejo vā kiṃ tasya ca parākramaḥ || kā tapasyā ca ki jñānaṃ kiṃ vā tannirmmalaṃ yaśaḥ
And what is that brahmic splendour of his, and what is his valour? What was his austerity, what his knowledge, and what that spotless fame of his?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.7
कथं तस्य पुरःपूजा विश्वेषु निखिलेषु च ।। स्थिते नारायणे शम्भौ जगदीशे च धातरि
kathaṃ tasya puraḥpūjā viśveṣu nikhileṣu ca || sthite nārāyaṇe śambhau jagadīśe ca dhātari
How does he receive worship first, in all the worlds entire, when Nārāyaṇa, Śambhu, the Lord of the world, and the Creator exist?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.8
पुराणेषु निगूढं च तज्जन्म परिकीर्त्तितम् ।। कथं वा गजवक्त्रोऽयमेकदन्तो महोदरः
purāṇeṣu nigūḍhaṃ ca tajjanma parikīrttitam || kathaṃ vā gajavaktro'yamekadanto mahodaraḥ
And in the Purāṇas his birth is proclaimed as hidden (secret). And how is he elephant-faced, single-tusked, great-bellied?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.9
एतत्सर्वं समाचक्ष्व श्रोतुं कौतूहलं मम ।। सुविस्तीर्णं महाभाग तदतीव मनोहरम्
etatsarvaṃ samācakṣva śrotuṃ kautūhalaṃ mama || suvistīrṇaṃ mahābhāga tadatīva manoharam
Tell all this; I am eager to hear. (Tell it) at full length, O greatly fortunate one — it is exceedingly delightful.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.10
श्रीनारायण उवाच ।। शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामि रहस्यं परमाद्भुतम् ।। पापसन्तापहरणं सर्वविघ्नविनाशनम्
śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca || śṛṇu nārada vakṣyāmi rahasyaṃ paramādbhutam || pāpasantāpaharaṇaṃ sarvavighnavināśanam
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: Listen, Nārada, I shall tell the supremely wondrous secret, which removes the torment of sin and destroys all obstacles,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.11
सर्वमङ्गलदं सारं सर्वश्रुतिमनोहरम् ।। सुखदं मोक्षबीजं च पापमूलनिकृन्तनम्
sarvamaṅgaladaṃ sāraṃ sarvaśrutimanoharam || sukhadaṃ mokṣabījaṃ ca pāpamūlanikṛntanam
which bestows all auspiciousness, is the essence, is charming to every hearing, gives happiness, is the seed of liberation, and cuts away the root of sin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.12
दैत्यार्दितानां देवानां तेजोराशिसमुद्भवा ।। देवी संहृत्य दैत्यौघान्दक्षकन्या बभूव ह
daityārditānāṃ devānāṃ tejorāśisamudbhavā || devī saṃhṛtya daityaughāndakṣakanyā babhūva ha
The Goddess, arisen from the mass of splendour of the gods who were afflicted by the demons, having destroyed the hordes of demons, became the daughter of Dakṣa.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.13
सा च नाम्ना सती देवी स्वामिनो निन्दया पुरा ।। देहं संत्यज्य योगेन जाता शैलप्रियोदरे
sā ca nāmnā satī devī svāmino nindayā purā || dehaṃ saṃtyajya yogena jātā śailapriyodare
And she, the goddess Satī by name, formerly, because of the reviling of her husband, abandoned her body by yoga and was born in the womb of the mountain's wife.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.14
शङ्कराय ददौ तां च पार्वतीं पर्वतो मुदा ।। तां गृहीत्वा महादेवो जगाम विजनं वनम्
śaṅkarāya dadau tāṃ ca pārvatīṃ parvato mudā || tāṃ gṛhītvā mahādevo jagāma vijanaṃ vanam
And the Mountain gladly gave her, Pārvatī, to Śaṅkara; and taking her, the Great God went to a solitary forest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.15
शय्यां रतिकरीं कृत्वा पुष्पचन्दनचर्चिताम् ।। स रेमे नर्मदातीरे पुष्पोद्याने तया सह
śayyāṃ ratikarīṃ kṛtvā puṣpacandanacarcitām || sa reme narmadātīre puṣpodyāne tayā saha
Having made a bed conducive to love-making, smeared with flowers and sandal paste, he sported with her in a flower-garden on the bank of the Narmadā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.16
सहस्रवर्षपर्य्यन्तं दैवमानेन नारद ।। तयोर्बभूव शृंगारो विपरीतादिको महान् ।।
sahasravarṣaparyyantaṃ daivamānena nārada || tayorbabhūva śṛṃgāro viparītādiko mahān ||
For a full thousand years by the reckoning of the gods, O Nārada, there was between those two a great love-making, with the inverted posture and the rest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.17
दुर्गांगस्पर्शमात्रेण मदनान्मूर्च्छितः शिवः ।। मूर्च्छिता सा शिवस्पर्शाद्बुबुधे न दिवानिशम्
durgāṃgasparśamātreṇa madanānmūrcchitaḥ śivaḥ || mūrcchitā sā śivasparśādbubudhe na divāniśam
By the mere touch of Durgā's body Śiva swooned with passion; she, swooning from Śiva's touch, was not aware of day or night.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.18
हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णे पुंस्कोकिलरुताकुले ।। नानापुष्पविकासाढ्ये भ्रमरध्वनिगुञ्जिते
haṃsakāraṇḍavākīrṇe puṃskokilarutākule || nānāpuṣpavikāsāḍhye bhramaradhvaniguñjite
(In a place) filled with geese and kāraṇḍava ducks, noisy with the cries of male cuckoos, rich with the blossoming of various flowers, humming with the sound of bees,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.19
सुगन्धिकुसुमाश्लेषिवायुना सुरभीकृते ।। अतीव सुखदे तत्र सर्वजन्तुविवर्जिते
sugandhikusumāśleṣivāyunā surabhīkṛte || atīva sukhade tatra sarvajantuvivarjite
made fragrant by the wind that embraced the sweet-scented flowers, exceedingly pleasant, free of all (other) creatures — there.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.20
दृष्ट्वा तयोस्तच्छृङ्गारं चिन्तां प्रापुः सुराः पराम् ।। ब्रह्माणं च पुरस्कृत्य ययुर्नारायणान्तिकम् ।।
dṛṣṭvā tayostacchṛṅgāraṃ cintāṃ prāpuḥ surāḥ parām || brahmāṇaṃ ca puraskṛtya yayurnārāyaṇāntikam ||
Seeing that love-making of the two, the gods fell into the greatest anxiety, and putting Brahmā at their head they went into the presence of Nārāyaṇa.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.21
तं नत्वा कथयामास ब्रह्मा वृत्तान्तमीप्सितम् ।। संतस्थुर्देवताः सर्वाश्चित्रपुत्तलिका यथा
taṃ natvā kathayāmāsa brahmā vṛttāntamīpsitam || saṃtasthurdevatāḥ sarvāścitraputtalikā yathā
Bowing to him, Brahmā related the matter (they) desired (to report); all the deities stood still like painted figures.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.22
ब्रह्मोवाच ।। सहस्रवर्षपर्य्यन्तं देवमानेन शङ्करः ।। रतौ रतश्च निश्चेष्टो न योगी विरराम ह
brahmovāca || sahasravarṣaparyyantaṃ devamānena śaṅkaraḥ || ratau rataśca niśceṣṭo na yogī virarāma ha
Brahmā said: For a full thousand years by the reckoning of the gods Śaṅkara has been engaged in love-play, motionless; the yogin has not ceased.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.23
मैथुनस्य विरामे च दम्पत्योर्जगदीश्वर ।। किम्भूतं भविताऽपत्यं तथ्यं कथितुमर्हसि
maithunasya virāme ca dampatyorjagadīśvara || kimbhūtaṃ bhavitā'patyaṃ tathyaṃ kathitumarhasi
And when the couple's intercourse comes to an end, O Lord of the world, what sort of offspring will there be? Please tell (us) the truth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.24
श्रीभगवानुवाच ।। चिन्ता नास्ति जगद्धातः सर्व भद्रं भविष्यति।। मयि ये शरणापन्नास्तेषां दुखं कुतो विधे
śrībhagavānuvāca || cintā nāsti jagaddhātaḥ sarva bhadraṃ bhaviṣyati|| mayi ye śaraṇāpannāsteṣāṃ dukhaṃ kuto vidhe
The Blessed Lord said: There is no cause for worry, O Maker of the world; all will be well. For those who have taken refuge in me, whence should sorrow come, O Vidhi (Brahmā)?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.25
येनोपायेन तद्वीर्यं भूमौ पतति निश्चितम् ।। तत्कुरुष्व प्रयत्नेन सार्द्धं देवगणेन च
yenopāyena tadvīryaṃ bhūmau patati niścitam || tatkuruṣva prayatnena sārddhaṃ devagaṇena ca
By whatever means that seed (of Śiva) will certainly fall on the ground — do that with effort, together with the host of the gods.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.26
यदा च शम्भोर्वीर्य्यं तत्पार्वत्या उदरे पतेत् ।। ततोऽपत्यं च भविता सुरासुरविमर्दकम्
yadā ca śambhorvīryyaṃ tatpārvatyā udare patet || tato'patyaṃ ca bhavitā surāsuravimardakam
For if Śambhu's seed should fall into Pārvatī's womb, then the offspring born of it would be a crusher of gods and demons alike.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.27
ततः शक्रादयः सर्वे सुरा नारायणाज्ञया ।। प्रययुर्नर्म्मदातीरं ययौ ब्रह्मा निजालयम्
tataḥ śakrādayaḥ sarve surā nārāyaṇājñayā || prayayurnarmmadātīraṃ yayau brahmā nijālayam
Then Śakra and all the other gods, by Nārāyaṇa's command, went to the bank of the Narmadā, and Brahmā went to his own abode.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.28
तत्रैव पर्वतद्रोणीबहिर्देशे सुराः पराः ।। विषण्णवदनाः सर्वे बभूवुर्भयकातराः
tatraiva parvatadroṇībahirdeśe surāḥ parāḥ || viṣaṇṇavadanāḥ sarve babhūvurbhayakātarāḥ
There, in the region outside the mountain valley, the foremost gods all became downcast of face and faint with fear.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.29
शक्रो राजा कुबेरं च कुबेरो वरुणं तथा ।। समीरणं च वरुणो यमं चैव समीरणः
śakro rājā kuberaṃ ca kubero varuṇaṃ tathā || samīraṇaṃ ca varuṇo yamaṃ caiva samīraṇaḥ
King Śakra (urged) Kubera, and Kubera Varuṇa, and Varuṇa the Wind, and the Wind Yama,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.30
हुताशनं यमश्चैव भास्करं च हुताशनः ।। चन्द्रं तथा भास्करश्च त्वीशानं चन्द्र एव च
hutāśanaṃ yamaścaiva bhāskaraṃ ca hutāśanaḥ || candraṃ tathā bhāskaraśca tvīśānaṃ candra eva ca
and Yama the Fire, and the Fire the Sun, and the Sun the Moon, and the Moon Īśāna.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.31
एवं देवाः प्रेरयन्ति देवांश्च रतिभञ्जने ।। हरशृंगार भंगं च कुर्वित्युक्त्वा परस्परम्
evaṃ devāḥ prerayanti devāṃśca ratibhañjane || haraśṛṃgāra bhaṃgaṃ ca kurvityuktvā parasparam
Thus the gods urged (other) gods on to the breaking off of the love-making, saying to one another, "Do you bring about the interruption of Hara's dalliance!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.32
द्वारि स्थितो वक्रशिराः शक्रः प्राह महेश्वरम्
dvāri sthito vakraśirāḥ śakraḥ prāha maheśvaram
Standing at the door with his head turned aside, Śakra spoke to Maheśvara.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.33
इन्द्र उवाच ।। किं करोषि महादेव योगीश्वर नमोऽस्तु ते ।। जगदीश जगद्बीज भक्तानां भयभञ्जन
indra uvāca || kiṃ karoṣi mahādeva yogīśvara namo'stu te || jagadīśa jagadbīja bhaktānāṃ bhayabhañjana
Indra said: What are you doing, Mahādeva? O Lord of yogins, homage be to you — O Lord of the world, Seed of the world, Breaker of the fears of the devoted!
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.34
हरिर्जगामेत्युक्त्वा तमाजगाम च भास्करः ।। उवाच भीतो द्वारस्थो भयार्त्तो वक्रचक्षुषा
harirjagāmetyuktvā tamājagāma ca bhāskaraḥ || uvāca bhīto dvārastho bhayārtto vakracakṣuṣā
Saying "Hari has gone," he departed, and the Sun came to him; standing at the door, afraid and stricken with fear, with eyes averted, he spoke.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.35
श्रीसूर्य्य उवाच ।। किं करोषि महादेव जगतां परिपालक ।। सुरश्रेष्ठ महाभाग पार्वतीश नमोऽस्तु ते
śrīsūryya uvāca || kiṃ karoṣi mahādeva jagatāṃ paripālaka || suraśreṣṭha mahābhāga pārvatīśa namo'stu te
The blessed Sun said: What are you doing, Mahādeva, protector of the worlds? O best of gods, greatly blessed one, lord of Pārvatī, homage be to you.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.36
इत्येवमुक्त्वा श्रीसूर्य्यः स जगाम भयात्ततः ।। आजगाम तथा चन्द्र अवोचद्वक्रकन्धरः
ityevamuktvā śrīsūryyaḥ sa jagāma bhayāttataḥ || ājagāma tathā candra avocadvakrakandharaḥ
Having spoken thus, the blessed Sun went away from there out of fear; and likewise the Moon came, and spoke with his neck turned aside.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.37
चन्द्र उवाच ।। किं करोषि त्रिलोकेश त्रिलोचन नमोऽस्तु ते ।। आत्माराम स्वयंपूर्ण पुण्यश्रवणकीर्त्तन
candra uvāca || kiṃ karoṣi trilokeśa trilocana namo'stu te || ātmārāma svayaṃpūrṇa puṇyaśravaṇakīrttana
The Moon said: What are you doing, Lord of the three worlds? O three-eyed one, homage be to you — you who delight in yourself, complete in yourself, whose hearing and praise are meritorious!
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.38
इत्येवमुक्त्वा भीतश्च विरराम निशापतिः ।। समीरणोऽपि द्वारस्थस्संवीक्ष्योवाच सादरम् ४
ityevamuktvā bhītaśca virarāma niśāpatiḥ || samīraṇo'pi dvārasthassaṃvīkṣyovāca sādaram 4
Having spoken thus, the lord of night, afraid, fell silent; and the Wind too, standing at the door, having looked, spoke respectfully.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.39
पवन उवाच ।। किं करोषि जगन्नाथ जगद्बन्धो नमो ऽस्तु ते ।। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां बीजरूप सनातन
pavana uvāca || kiṃ karoṣi jagannātha jagadbandho namo 'stu te || dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāṃ bījarūpa sanātana
The Wind said: What are you doing, Lord of the world? O Friend of the world, homage be to you — you who are the seed-form of dharma, wealth, pleasure and liberation, the eternal one!
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.40
इत्येवं स्तवनं श्रुत्वा योगज्ञानविशारदः ।। त्यक्तुकामो न तत्याज शृङ्गारं पार्वती भयात्
ityevaṃ stavanaṃ śrutvā yogajñānaviśāradaḥ || tyaktukāmo na tatyāja śṛṅgāraṃ pārvatī bhayāt
Having heard this praise, he who is skilled in yoga and knowledge, though wishing to leave off, did not leave off the love-play, out of fear of Pārvatī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.41
दृष्ट्वा सुरान्भयार्त्तश्च पुनः स्तोतुं समुद्यतान्।। विजहौ सुखसम्भोगं कण्ठलग्नां च पार्वतीम्
dṛṣṭvā surānbhayārttaśca punaḥ stotuṃ samudyatān|| vijahau sukhasambhogaṃ kaṇṭhalagnāṃ ca pārvatīm
But seeing the gods, stricken with fear, ready to praise (him) again, he gave up the pleasurable union and Pārvatī who clung to his neck.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.42
उत्तिष्ठतो महेशस्य त्रासलज्जायुतस्य च ।। भूमौ पपात तद्वीर्य्यं ततः स्कन्दो बभूव ह
uttiṣṭhato maheśasya trāsalajjāyutasya ca || bhūmau papāta tadvīryyaṃ tataḥ skando babhūva ha
As Maheśa, filled with alarm and shame, rose up, his seed fell to the ground; from that Skanda came into being.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 3 1.43
पश्चात्तां कथयिष्यामि कथामतिमनोहराम् ।। स्कन्दजन्मप्रसङ्गे च साम्प्रतं वाञ्छितं शृणु
paścāttāṃ kathayiṣyāmi kathāmatimanoharām || skandajanmaprasaṅge ca sāmprataṃ vāñchitaṃ śṛṇu
Later I shall tell that most delightful tale, on the occasion of Skanda's birth; for now, hear what you have asked for.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition