Ganesha Purana — Upasanakhanda — Chapter 23

GnP 1 23.1

भृगुरूवाच ॥ विश्वामित्रवचः श्रुत्वा भीमः पप्रच्छ तं पुनः । वैश्यचरितवार्तायाः श्रवणे परमोत्सुकः तत्र देवालयं देवं ददर्श गणनायकम् श्यामास्यः कृशतायुक्तो बधिरोऽथान्ध एव च । एवंविधः पिता तेऽस्ति तं निवेदितुमागता स एव ज्ञानस्त्राता संहर्ता कालरूपवान् । सर्वस्वरूपो देवेन्द्रो ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवात्मकः तत्रैव गणनाथस्य दर्शनं च भविष्यति । तदा स दिव्यदेहत्वं प्राप्स्यते द्विरदाननात्

bhṛgurūvāca || viśvāmitravacaḥ śrutvā bhīmaḥ papraccha taṃ punaḥ | vaiśyacaritavārtāyāḥ śravaṇe paramotsukaḥ tatra devālayaṃ devaṃ dadarśa gaṇanāyakam śyāmāsyaḥ kṛśatāyukto badhiro'thāndha eva ca | evaṃvidhaḥ pitā te'sti taṃ niveditumāgatā sa eva jñānastrātā saṃhartā kālarūpavān | sarvasvarūpo devendro brahmaviṣṇuśivātmakaḥ tatraiva gaṇanāthasya darśanaṃ ca bhaviṣyati | tadā sa divyadehatvaṃ prāpsyate dviradānanāt

Bhṛgu said: Having heard Viśvāmitra's words, Bhīma questioned him again, being most eager to hear the account of the vaiśya's doings. There he saw the god in the temple, the Lord of the Hosts. "Dark-faced, emaciated, deaf and also blind—of such a kind is your father; (we) have come to announce that. He alone is the giver of knowledge, the protector, the destroyer having the form of Time, of every form, the lord of gods, whose self is Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva. In that very place the sight of the Lord of the Hosts will come about; then he will attain a divine body from the Elephant-faced one."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

GnP 1 23.2

सोमकान्त नृपश्रेष्ठ कथयामि शृणुष्व तत् । भीम उवाच ॥ श्रुतं दक्षस्य चरितं विश्रान्तं मम मानसम्

somakānta nṛpaśreṣṭha kathayāmi śṛṇuṣva tat | bhīma uvāca || śrutaṃ dakṣasya caritaṃ viśrāntaṃ mama mānasam

"Somakānta, best of kings, I shall tell it; listen to that." Bhīma said: "I have heard the deeds of Dakṣa; my mind has been set at rest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.3

कथं कल्याणवैश्यस्य गतिरासीद्वदस्व ताम् । विश्वामित्र उवाच ॥ शृणुष्वैकमना भीम कथामेतां वदामि ते

kathaṃ kalyāṇavaiśyasya gatirāsīdvadasva tām | viśvāmitra uvāca || śṛṇuṣvaikamanā bhīma kathāmetāṃ vadāmi te

Tell me: what was the fate of Kalyāṇa the vaiśya?" Viśvāmitra said: "Listen with a single mind, Bhīma; I shall tell you this story.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.4

बल्लालशापात् कल्याणदेहात् सुस्राव शोणितम् । असंख्य क्षतसंयुक्तः स्रावो वाधिर्यमंधता

ballālaśāpāt kalyāṇadehāt susrāva śoṇitam | asaṃkhya kṣatasaṃyuktaḥ srāvo vādhiryamaṃdhatā

By Ballāla's curse blood flowed from Kalyāṇa's body; a flow (of blood) together with countless wounds, and deafness and blindness (came upon him),

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.5

मूकता पूतिगन्धित्वं जातं तस्य दुरात्मनः । ददर्शेन्दुमती तस्य दशामाकस्मिकीं ततः

mūkatā pūtigandhitvaṃ jātaṃ tasya durātmanaḥ | dadarśendumatī tasya daśāmākasmikīṃ tataḥ

dumbness and a foul stench arose for that evil-souled man. Then Indumatī saw that sudden condition of his,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.6

किमिदं किमिदं कस्माज्जातमेवं शुशोच तम् । ज्ञानिनोऽस्य वदान्यस्य देवद्विजरतस्य च

kimidaṃ kimidaṃ kasmājjātamevaṃ śuśoca tam | jñānino'sya vadānyasya devadvijaratasya ca

(and) lamented for him: "What is this, what is this, why has it come about thus? For him who is wise, generous, devoted to the gods and to brahmins,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.7

धर्मशास्त्रार्थनिष्ठस्य स्वदारपरितोषिणः । अवस्थेयं कथं जाता मम भर्तुर्निरेनसः

dharmaśāstrārthaniṣṭhasya svadāraparitoṣiṇaḥ | avastheyaṃ kathaṃ jātā mama bharturnirenasaḥ

who is intent upon the meaning of the dharma-treatises and who is content with his own wife—how has this state come upon my sinless husband?"

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.8

मुनिरुवाच ॥ एवं विलप्य बहुधा निश्वसन्ती पुनः पुनः

muniruvāca || evaṃ vilapya bahudhā niśvasantī punaḥ punaḥ

The sage said: Having lamented thus in many ways, sighing again and again,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.9

तेन बद्धं वने पुत्रं निशम्य रुदती मुहुः। पौरेः सह ययौ तत्र यत्र बद्धो वने सुतः

tena baddhaṃ vane putraṃ niśamya rudatī muhuḥ| paureḥ saha yayau tatra yatra baddho vane sutaḥ

weeping repeatedly on hearing that her son had been bound by him in the forest, she went, together with the townspeople, to that place in the forest where her son was bound.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.11

चतुर्भुजं त्रिनयनं सिन्दूरारुणविग्रहम् । बल्लालं च सुतं तत्र पूजयन्तं गजाननम्

caturbhujaṃ trinayanaṃ sindūrāruṇavigraham | ballālaṃ ca sutaṃ tatra pūjayantaṃ gajānanam

(She saw there) the four-armed, three-eyed one, whose body was red as vermilion—the Elephant-faced one—and her son Ballāla worshipping him there;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.12

मुक्तं निर्व्रणमव्यंगं निरीक्ष्य पुरवासिनः । उवाचेन्दुमती क्रुद्धा भर्त्सयन्ती पुनःपुनः

muktaṃ nirvraṇamavyaṃgaṃ nirīkṣya puravāsinaḥ | uvācendumatī kruddhā bhartsayantī punaḥpunaḥ

and the townsfolk, seeing (him) released, unwounded, unmaimed, Indumatī, angry, spoke, reproaching (them) again and again:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.13

कथं प्रतारिता तथ्यवादिभिर्भर्तृसन्निधौ । तादृशं तं परित्यज्य पुत्रस्नेहादिहागता

kathaṃ pratāritā tathyavādibhirbhartṛsannidhau | tādṛśaṃ taṃ parityajya putrasnehādihāgatā

"How was I deceived by those who speak the truth, in my husband's presence! Abandoning him in such a state, I came here out of love for my son.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.14

पश्यंतु देवभक्तिं मे पुत्रं कुर्वन्तमीदृशीम् । मुनिरुवाच ॥ विस्मिताः सर्व एवैते न किंचित् प्रोचुरण्वपि

paśyaṃtu devabhaktiṃ me putraṃ kurvantamīdṛśīm | muniruvāca || vismitāḥ sarva evaite na kiṃcit procuraṇvapi

Let (them) behold my son performing such devotion to the god!" The sage said: All these were amazed and said nothing at all, though (they) heard.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.15

केचिदूचुर्महाभक्तेर्महिमा केन गम्यते । वीक्ष्य सिंदूररक्तांगं रक्तचन्दनचर्चितम्

kecidūcurmahābhaktermahimā kena gamyate | vīkṣya siṃdūraraktāṃgaṃ raktacandanacarcitam

Some said: "By whom can the greatness of great devotion be fathomed?"—seeing (him) with limbs red with vermilion, smeared with red sandal-paste,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.16

रक्ताम्बरं रक्तपुष्पमालाभिरुपशोभितम् । निर्ममं निरहंकारमशुंडमिव विघ्नपम्

raktāmbaraṃ raktapuṣpamālābhirupaśobhitam | nirmamaṃ nirahaṃkāramaśuṃḍamiva vighnapam

clad in red, adorned with garlands of red flowers, free of possessiveness, free of egoism, like the Remover of Obstacles without a trunk,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.17

निरीक्ष्य तादृशं पुत्रं त्यक्त्वा शोकं ननन्द सा । आलिलिंग तदा तं तु स्नेहनुतपयोधरा

nirīkṣya tādṛśaṃ putraṃ tyaktvā śokaṃ nananda sā | āliliṃga tadā taṃ tu snehanutapayodharā

seeing her son in such a state, she abandoned grief and rejoiced; then she embraced him, her breasts flowing with (milk from) affection.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.18

आह तं स्वगृहं याव पितुस्ते श्यसनं महत् । उत्थितं तत्र किचित्तं कुरूपायं महामते

āha taṃ svagṛhaṃ yāva pituste śyasanaṃ mahat | utthitaṃ tatra kicittaṃ kurūpāyaṃ mahāmate

She said to him: "Go to your own house; a great calamity has befallen your father there. Devise some remedy for it, O greatly wise one.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

GnP 1 23.19

आवां धन्यतमौ लोके ययोः पुत्रस्त्वमीदृशः । सर्वांग क्षतवान् रक्तस्राववान् पूतिगंधवान्

āvāṃ dhanyatamau loke yayoḥ putrastvamīdṛśaḥ | sarvāṃga kṣatavān raktasrāvavān pūtigaṃdhavān

We two are the most blessed in the world, whose son you are, such as you are. (Your father,) wounded in every limb, oozing blood, of foul smell—

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.21

पितृधर्मेण तेन त्वं तावितोऽनर्थकृद्यपि । तत्रापराधो नैवास्ति श्रुतिस्मतिपुराणतः

pitṛdharmeṇa tena tvaṃ tāvito'narthakṛdyapi | tatrāparādho naivāsti śrutismatipurāṇataḥ

by that duty of a father you were chastised, even though you did nothing wrong; in that there is no fault at all, according to śruti, smṛti and purāṇa.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

GnP 1 23.22

पुत्रधर्मान्निरीक्षस्व कुर्वारोग्य विचारणम् । त्वया श्लाघ्यतमो लोके पिता ते पितृवत्सल

putradharmānnirīkṣasva kurvārogya vicāraṇam | tvayā ślāghyatamo loke pitā te pitṛvatsala

“Look to the duty of a son and give thought to (my) health. By you, O you who are devoted to your father, your father is made most praiseworthy in the world.”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

GnP 1 23.23

माता पितृवचः कार्यं सत्पुत्रेण यशस्विना । पूजनं च तयोः कार्यं पोषणं पालनं तथा

mātā pitṛvacaḥ kāryaṃ satputreṇa yaśasvinā | pūjanaṃ ca tayoḥ kāryaṃ poṣaṇaṃ pālanaṃ tathā

“The word of mother and father is to be carried out by a good and glorious son; and honour is to be paid to those two, and likewise their nourishment and their protection.”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.24

औषधान्मन्त्रतश्चापि देवताप्रार्थनादपि । उपायं कुरु पुत्र त्वं मयि दृष्टिं निवेशय

auṣadhānmantrataścāpi devatāprārthanādapi | upāyaṃ kuru putra tvaṃ mayi dṛṣṭiṃ niveśaya

“By medicine, by mantra, and also by petitioning the deity — apply some means, my son, and fix your gaze upon me.”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.25

यशस्ते भविता लोके सौभाग्यं मम बालक । इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा बल्लालो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

yaśaste bhavitā loke saubhāgyaṃ mama bālaka | iti tasyā vacaḥ śrutvā ballālo vākyamabravīt

“Renown will be yours in the world, my boy, and good fortune mine.” Having heard those words of hers, Ballāla spoke these words:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.26

बल्लाल उवाच ॥ कस्य माता पिता कस्य कस्य पुत्रोऽथवा सुहृत् । विघ्नराज कृतं सर्वं मानुषस्यखिलं स्मृतम्

ballāla uvāca || kasya mātā pitā kasya kasya putro'thavā suhṛt | vighnarāja kṛtaṃ sarvaṃ mānuṣasyakhilaṃ smṛtam

Ballāla said: “Whose mother, whose father, or whose son or friend (is anyone)? O Vighnarāja, all is done (by you); the whole of a man is held (to be yours).”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

GnP 1 23.27

तस्मान्मम पिता भद्रे माता देवो विनायकः । यो यथा कुरुते कर्म स तथा फलमश्नुते । मया समर्पितो जीवो देवदेवे गजानने

tasmānmama pitā bhadre mātā devo vināyakaḥ | yo yathā kurute karma sa tathā phalamaśnute | mayā samarpito jīvo devadeve gajānane

“Therefore, good lady, my father and my mother is the god Vināyaka. As one performs an act, so does he enjoy its fruit. By me my life was surrendered to Gajānana, the god of gods.”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.28

तेन जीवस्तथा ज्ञानं मम दत्तं सुभक्तितः । प्रासादभंजनाद्देवक्षेपणात्ताडनान्मम । विनायकातिभक्तस्य तथा प्राप्तं फलं शुभे

tena jīvastathā jñānaṃ mama dattaṃ subhaktitaḥ | prāsādabhaṃjanāddevakṣepaṇāttāḍanānmama | vināyakātibhaktasya tathā prāptaṃ phalaṃ śubhe

“By him life and likewise knowledge were given to me because of (my) good devotion. From the breaking of the temple, from the flinging away of the god, and from the beating of me — who am an extreme devotee of Vināyaka — such was the fruit obtained, O fair one.”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.29

विचार्यमाणे न त्वं मे माता वा स पिताऽपि च । सर्वस्य हि पिता देवो माता देवो गजाननः

vicāryamāṇe na tvaṃ me mātā vā sa pitā'pi ca | sarvasya hi pitā devo mātā devo gajānanaḥ

“When it is considered, you are not my mother, nor is he my father; for the god is the father of all, and the god Gajānana is the mother.”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.31

वृथा मयेन दुष्टेन ताडनं निर्घृणेन च । कृतं देवस्य विक्षेपः प्रासादस्यापि भंजनम्

vṛthā mayena duṣṭena tāḍanaṃ nirghṛṇena ca | kṛtaṃ devasya vikṣepaḥ prāsādasyāpi bhaṃjanam

“In vain were the beating done by that wicked and pitiless one, and the flinging away of the god, and the breaking of the temple as well.”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

GnP 1 23.32

तस्यास्य दर्शने दोषः पतितस्य महान्भवेत् । स्नेहं त्यक्वा मदीयं त्वं पतिं स्वं परिषेवय

tasyāsya darśane doṣaḥ patitasya mahānbhavet | snehaṃ tyakvā madīyaṃ tvaṃ patiṃ svaṃ pariṣevaya

“In seeing him there would be great fault, since he is fallen. Give up your affection for me and serve your own husband.”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.33

विश्वामित्र उवाच ॥ इति पुत्रवचः श्रुत्वा सा तं पुनरथाब्रवीत् । मातोवाच ॥ कृपयाऽनुग्रहात् स्नेहादुच्छापं वक्तुमर्हसि

viśvāmitra uvāca || iti putravacaḥ śrutvā sā taṃ punarathābravīt | mātovāca || kṛpayā'nugrahāt snehāducchāpaṃ vaktumarhasi

Viśvāmitra said: Having heard these words of her son, she spoke to him again. The mother said: “Out of compassion, out of favour, out of affection, you ought to tell (me) the ending of the curse.”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

GnP 1 23.34

पुत्र उवाच ॥ भवान्तरेऽस्य जननी भवितासि वरार्थिनी। अयमेतादृशः पुत्रो भविता तव सुव्रते

putra uvāca || bhavāntare'sya jananī bhavitāsi varārthinī| ayametādṛśaḥ putro bhavitā tava suvrate

The son said: “In another birth you, seeking a boon, will be his mother; such a son as this will be yours, O you of good vows.”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.35

कल्याण नामा भविता वल्लभः क्षत्रियर्षभः । कमलेति च विख्याता नाम्ना त्वं च भविष्यसि

kalyāṇa nāmā bhavitā vallabhaḥ kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ | kamaleti ca vikhyātā nāmnā tvaṃ ca bhaviṣyasi

“Your husband will be named Kalyāṇa, a bull among Kṣatriyas, and you will be known by the name Kamalā.”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.36

दक्ष इत्येव पुत्रस्य नाम ख्यातं भविष्यति । ततो द्वादश वर्षाणि वल्लभस्तप्स्यते तपः

dakṣa ityeva putrasya nāma khyātaṃ bhaviṣyati | tato dvādaśa varṣāṇi vallabhastapsyate tapaḥ

“And the son’s name will be famed as Dakṣa. Then for twelve years the husband will practise austerity,”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.37

अन्धतां बधिरत्वं च क्षतानि मूकतां तथा । व्यपनेतुं तु दक्षस्य परं नियममास्थितः

andhatāṃ badhiratvaṃ ca kṣatāni mūkatāṃ tathā | vyapanetuṃ tu dakṣasya paraṃ niyamamāsthitaḥ

“in order to remove Dakṣa’s blindness, deafness, wounds and dumbness; and he will undertake the highest observance.”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.38

अलब्ध्वा स फलं तस्मात्सुपुत्रां त्वां शुभानने । निराकरिष्यते गेहाद्विदेशस्था भविष्यसि

alabdhvā sa phalaṃ tasmātsuputrāṃ tvāṃ śubhānane | nirākariṣyate gehādvideśasthā bhaviṣyasi

“Not obtaining that fruit, he will therefore cast you out from the house, O fair-faced one, though you have a good son, and you will dwell abroad.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.39

कस्यचिद् द्विजवर्यस्य द्विरदाननचेतसः । दैवात् स्पर्शेन भद्रे ते सम्यक्पुत्रो भविष्यति

kasyacid dvijavaryasya dviradānanacetasaḥ | daivāt sparśena bhadre te samyakputro bhaviṣyati

“By fate, through the touch of some excellent brahmin whose mind is on the Elephant-faced one, your son will become whole, good lady.”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.41

इति सर्वं समाख्यातमुच्छापकारणं शुभे। भविष्यं कथितं तेऽद्य यथेष्टं गम्यतां त्वया

iti sarvaṃ samākhyātamucchāpakāraṇaṃ śubhe| bhaviṣyaṃ kathitaṃ te'dya yatheṣṭaṃ gamyatāṃ tvayā

“Thus all the means of ending the curse has been declared, O fair one; the future has been told to you today. Go now as you wish.”

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.42

विश्वामित्र उवाच ॥ एवं निराकृता तेन जननी निरगात्तदा । दुःखशोकसमायुक्ता किंचिद्धर्षयुताऽपि च

viśvāmitra uvāca || evaṃ nirākṛtā tena jananī niragāttadā | duḥkhaśokasamāyuktā kiṃciddharṣayutā'pi ca

Viśvāmitra said: Thus rejected by him, the mother then went out, filled with sorrow and grief, and yet somewhat joyful too.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.43

स चारुरोह तद्दिव्यं विमानं भक्तिभावितम् । गजाननेन विहितम् बल्लालोऽथागमद्दिवम्

sa cāruroha taddivyaṃ vimānaṃ bhaktibhāvitam | gajānanena vihitam ballālo'thāgamaddivam

And he mounted that divine chariot, brought about by his devotion and fashioned by Gajānana; and Ballāla then went to heaven.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.44

इति ते सर्वमाख्यातं यत् पृष्टोऽहमिव त्वया। या गतिस्तेन वैश्येन संप्राप्ता जन्मनोर्द्वयोः

iti te sarvamākhyātaṃ yat pṛṣṭo'hamiva tvayā| yā gatistena vaiśyena saṃprāptā janmanordvayoḥ

Thus all has been told to you, that which was asked of me by you — the destiny that was attained by that merchant in his two births.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GnP 1 23.45

यथा जगाद बल्लालः सर्वं तदभवत्तदा । सा जज्ञे कमला भूत्वा सोऽभवत् क्षत्रियर्षभः

yathā jagāda ballālaḥ sarvaṃ tadabhavattadā | sā jajñe kamalā bhūtvā so'bhavat kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ

Just as Ballāla had said, so all of it then came to pass: she was born as Kamalā, and he became a bull among Kṣatriyas.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition