Prelude to Ganesha's Marriage

Narada said

Father, I have properly heard the excellent account of Ganesha's divine conduct, adorned with his great valour. Father, lord of the gods, what happened after that? Please tell me. The pervasive fame of Shiva and Shivaa brings great joy.

Brahma replied

Best of sages, you ask a good question out of compassion. Supreme among rishis, I will tell you; lend me your ears. Indra among brahmanas, Shiva and Shivaa had two supreme sons. They kept watching their play and their love was great. Father and mother nurtured them and their happiness grew. They were happy and delighted with all that the two sons did. Lord among sages, the two sons served their mother and father with devotion. The parents' love for the six-faced one and for Ganesha constantly increased, as the moon waxes in the bright fortnight.

Divine rishi, once Shiva and Shivaa conversed in private, full of love, and discussed matters properly. They said to each other that both their sons were ready for marriage; how should they arrange good marriages for both? They loved the six-faced one and loved Ganesha too. In their joy they thought about it anxiously. Sage, the two sons learned of their parents' thinking and were eager and wished to marry. Each kept saying "I will marry, I will," and the two constantly quarrelled. The couple, rulers of the worlds, heard them and, following worldly custom, were filled with great wonder. "What should be done? How can marriages be arranged for these two?" Having reasoned it out, they reached a wonderful decision. Once they summoned the two sons, and mother and father spoke to them.

Shiva and Shivaa said

We have already decided on a rule, which will bring happiness to both of you. Sons, listen attentively; we will tell you what has been decided. To us you are equal; there are no sons as special and virtuous as you. So we have decided on a pledge for the welfare of both: whoever circles the earth and returns first will have his auspicious marriage celebrated first.

Brahma said

Hearing them, the extremely powerful one born from the reeds quickly left the house to circle the earth. The leader of the ganas, supreme in intelligence, stayed there, thinking the matter over repeatedly with his excellent mind: "What shall I do? Where shall I go? I cannot travel around the earth; at most I can go two kroshas. Even if I go round the earth, what happiness will I earn for myself?" So Ganesha thought; listen to what he did next. He bathed properly and went back to his own home and spoke to his father and mother.

Ganesha said

To worship you I have placed two seats here. Father and mother, please sit here and fulfil my wish.

Brahma said

Hearing him, Parvati and Parameshvara sat on those seats and accepted his worship. He worshipped them and walked round them again and again, seven times, and bowed to them seven times. Son, Ganesha, an ocean of intelligence, joined his hands and praised his parents several times, overwhelmed with love.

Ganesha said

Father, mother, listen to my supreme words. You must quickly arrange my beautiful marriage now.

Brahma said

Hearing great-souled Ganesha, an ocean of great intelligence, his parents spoke to him.

Shiva and Shivaa said

You must properly circle the earth with its forests. Kumara has left. You too must go and return first.

Brahma said

Hearing his parents, Ganapati replied at once, angered but restraining his speech.

Ganesha said

Mother, father, you are wise and are held to be forms of dharma. Excellent ones, listen to my words, which are laced with right dharma. I have circled the earth again and again, seven times. Why do my parents speak to me so?

Brahma said

His parents were following worldly custom; they are the ones who play great pastimes. Hearing him, they replied.

The parents said

When have you circled the vast earth, with its seven dvipas and huge forests, up to the limits of the ocean?

Brahma said

Sage, hearing Shivaa and Shankara, their son Ganesha, abode of great intelligence, answered them.

Ganesha said

I have worshipped you, Shivaa and Shankara. According to my understanding I have circled the earth, bounded by the oceans. Are these not the words of the Vedas and sacred texts, the stores of dharma? Is that not the truth, or is there some other truth? "If a person worships his parents and walks round them, he surely gains the fruits of circling the earth. If a person leaves his parents at home and goes on pilgrimage to tirthas, he is said to incur a sin equal to killing them. The great tirtha for a son is his parents' lotus feet. Other tirthas are far away, even if one visits and returns. This tirtha is near and easy to reach; it is a means of gaining dharma. For a son and a wife the very lovely tirtha is at home." These are words constantly stated in the Vedas and sacred texts. Will you act so that those words are proved false? Then you will become forms of falsehood, and without doubt the words of the Vedas will be made false too. So you must quickly arrange my auspicious marriage. Otherwise please declare that the words of the Vedas and sacred texts are false. Of the two options, think and decide on the best course. Father and mother, you are forms of dharma and must make the effort to decide.

Brahma said

Parvati's son Ganesha, of excellent intelligence, said this and stopped, great in knowledge and supreme among the intelligent. The couple, lords of the world, Parvati and Shankara, heard him and were greatly amazed. Shiva and Shivaa praised their son, who had discriminating intelligence, a great deal, and spoke affectionately to the one who had spoken the truth.

Shiva and Shivaa said

Son, your intelligence is sparkling. You are great-souled and have spoken the truth; it cannot be otherwise. When a hardship comes, a person with special intelligence has his hardships destroyed, as darkness is destroyed when it sees the sun. One who has intelligence has strength. How can strength be in one who lacks it? It is like the insolent lion brought down in a well by a hare. The Vedas, sacred texts and Puranas tell what a child must do. You have done all that and kept dharma. You have acted properly and everyone in the world will follow this. We honour it and will not now act against it.

Brahma said

Saying this, they comforted Ganesha, the ocean of intelligence, and resolved to make excellent arrangements for his marriage.