Linga Purana

विचित्रवस्त्रभूषणैर् अलंकृतो गजाननः महेश्वरस्य पुत्रको ऽभिवन्द्य तातम् अम्बिकाम्

Adorned with wondrous garments and ornaments, Gajānana, the son of the great Lord, respectfully saluted his father and Ambikā.

जातमात्रं सुतं दृष्ट्वा चकार भगवान्भवः गजाननाय कृत्यांस्तु सर्वान्सर्वेश्वरः स्वयम्

Seeing his son newly born, the blessed Lord Bhava himself assigned all duties to Gajānana, the Lord of all.

आदाय च कराभ्यां च सुसुखाभ्यां भवः स्वयम् आलिङ्ग्याघ्राय मूर्धानं महादेवो जगद्गुरुः

Taking him in his own gentle hands, the great god, teacher of the world, embraced and smelled the head of his son.

तवावतारो दैत्यानां विनाशाय ममात्मज देवानामुपकारार्थं द्विजानां ब्रह्मवादिनाम्

Your descent, my son, is for the destruction of the demons, for the benefit of the gods, the twice-born, and those devoted to Brahman.

यज्ञश् च दक्षिणाहीनः कृतो येन महीतले तस्य धर्मस्य विघ्नं च कुरु स्वर्गपथे स्थितः

If any sacrifice is performed on earth without the prescribed fee, standing on the path to heaven, you must create an obstacle to that rite.

अध्यापनं चाध्ययनं व्याख्यानं कर्म एव च यो ऽन्यायतः करोत्यस्मिन् तस्य प्राणान्सदा हर

Whoever, in this world, teaches, studies, explains, or performs rites unlawfully—always take the life of such a one.

वर्णाच्च्युतानां नारीणां नराणां नरपुङ्गव स्वधर्मरहितानां च प्राणानपहर प्रभो

O best of men, for women and men who have fallen from their caste, and for those devoid of their own duty, take their lives, O Lord.

याः स्त्रियस्त्वां सदा कालं पुरुषाश् च विनायक यजन्ति तासां तेषां च त्वत्साम्यं दातुमर्हसि

For those women and men, O Vināyaka, who always worship you, you should grant them equality with yourself.

त्वं भक्तान् सर्वयत्नेन रक्ष बालगणेश्वर यौवनस्थांश् च वृद्धांश् च इहामुत्र च पूजितः

O child Gaṇeśa, protect your devotees with all effort—those who are young, mature, or old—being worshipped here and hereafter.

जगत्त्रये ऽत्र सर्वत्र त्वं हि विघ्नगणेश्वरः संपूज्यो वन्दनीयश् च भविष्यसि न संशयः

In all the three worlds, everywhere, you, O Lord of obstacles, must be worshipped and honored—of this there is no doubt.

मां च नारायणं वापि ब्रह्माणम् अपि पुत्रक यजन्ति यज्ञैर्वा विप्रैर् अग्रे पूज्यो भविष्यसि

Even if they worship me, Nārāyaṇa, or Brahmā, O son, with sacrifices performed by the wise, you must be worshipped first.

त्वाम् अनभ्यर्च्य कल्याणं श्रौतं स्मार्तं च लौकिकम् कुरुते तस्य कल्याणम् अकल्याणं भविष्यति

Whoever performs Vedic, Smārta, or worldly rites without first worshipping you, O auspicious one, for him, what is auspicious will turn inauspicious.

ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैर्वैश्यैः शूद्रैश्चैव गजानन सम्पूज्य सर्वसिद्ध्यर्थं भक्ष्यभोज्यादिभिः शुभैः

By brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras, O Gajānana, you must be worshipped with pure offerings of food and drink for the attainment of all success.

त्वां गन्धपुष्पधूपाद्यैर् अनभ्यर्च्य जगत्त्रये देवैरपि तथान्यैश् च लब्धव्यं नास्ति कुत्रचित्

Without worshipping you with fragrance, flowers, incense, and the like, even by the gods and others in all three worlds, you are not to be attained anywhere.

अभ्यर्चयन्ति ये लोका मानवास्तु विनायकम् ते चार्चनीयाः शक्राद्यैर् भविष्यन्ति न संशयः

Those people and men who worship Vinayaka are themselves to be worshipped by Indra and the other gods—of this there is no doubt.

अजं हरिं च मां वापि शक्रमन्यान्सुरानपि विघ्नैर् बाधयसि त्वां चेन् नार्चयन्ति फलार्थिनः

If those desiring results do not worship you, you hinder even the unborn, Hari, myself, Indra, and other gods with obstacles.

ससर्ज च तदा विघ्नगणं गणपतिः प्रभुः गणैः सार्धं नमस्कृत्वाप्य् अतिष्ठत्तस्य चाग्रतः

Then the great Lord Ganapati created the host of obstacles, and, together with his attendants, stood before him after offering obeisance.

तदा प्रभृति लोके ऽस्मिन् पूजयन्ति गणेश्वरम् दैत्यानां धर्मविघ्नं च चकारासौ गणेश्वरः

From that time onward in this world, people worship the Lord of the Ganas; and Ganeshvara made obstacles to the righteousness of the Daityas.

एतद्वः कथितं सर्वं स्कन्दाग्रजसमुद्भवम् यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि श्रावयेद्वा सुखीभवेत्

All this concerning the origin of Skanda’s elder brother has been told to you; whoever recites, hears, or causes it to be heard will become happy.

नृत्यारम्भः कथं शंभोः किमर्थं वा यथातथम् वक्तुमर्हसि चास्माकं श्रुतः स्कन्दाग्रजोद्भवः

How did Shambhu’s dance begin, and for what reason? You ought to tell us this truly, since the origin of Skanda’s elder brother has been heard.

दारुको ऽसुरसम्भूतस् तपसा लब्धविक्रमः सूदयामास कालाग्निर् इव देवान्द्विजोत्तमान्

Daruka, born of the Asuras, gained strength through austerity and began to slay the gods and foremost brahmins like the fire of destruction.

दारुकेण तदा देवास् ताडिताः पीडिता भृशम् ब्रह्माणं च तथेशानं कुमारं विष्णुमेव च

Then, struck and greatly tormented by Daruka, the gods, Brahma, Ishana, Kumara, and even Vishnu,

यममिन्द्रमनुप्राप्य स्त्रीवध्य इति चासुरः स्त्रीरूपधारिभिः स्तुत्यैर् ब्रह्माद्यैर्युधि संस्थितैः

The Asura, having reached Yama and Indra, was called ‘woman-slayer’ and, taking on female form, was praised by Brahma and others who stood ready for battle.

बाधितास्तेन ते सर्वे ब्रह्माणं प्राप्य वै द्विजाः विज्ञाप्य तस्मै तत्सर्वं तेन सार्धमुमापतिम्

All those afflicted by him went to Brahma, O twice-born, and reported everything to him, together with the Lord of Uma.

सम्प्राप्य तुष्टुवुः सर्वे पितामहपुरोगमाः ब्रह्मा प्राप्य च देवेशं प्रणम्य बहुधा नतः

Having reached him, all led by the Grandsire offered praise; and Brahma, having approached the Lord of the gods, bowed in many ways.

दारुणो भगवान्दारुः पूर्वं तेन विनिर्जिताः निहत्य दारुकं दैत्यं स्त्रीवध्यं त्रातुमर्हसि

The fierce Daruka, O blessed one, had previously defeated them; you ought to slay the Daitya Daruka, the woman-slayer, and protect us.

विज्ञप्तिं ब्रह्मणः श्रुत्वा भगवान् भगनेत्रहा देवीमुवाच देवेशो गिरिजां प्रहसन्निव

Hearing Brahma’s request, the Lord, destroyer of Bhaga’s eye, spoke to the goddess Girija, the Lord of gods, as if smiling.

भवतीं प्रार्थयाम्यद्य हिताय जगतां शुभे वधार्थं दारुकस्यास्य स्त्रीवध्यस्य वरानने

O auspicious one, today I request you for the welfare of the worlds, O beautiful-faced one, for the slaying of this Daruka, the woman-slayer.

अथ सा तस्य वचनं निशम्य जगतो ऽरणिः विवेश देहे देवस्य देवेशी जन्मतत्परा

Then, hearing his words, the Lady of the gods, the world’s refuge, entered the body of the Lord, intent on birth.