Adhyaya 59: The Obstacle-Removing Vow (Procedure for Worship of Vināyaka)

Verse 1

अगस्त्य उवाच । अथाविघ्नकरं राजन् कथयामि शृणुष्व मे । येन सम्यक् कृतेंऽपि न विघ्नमुपजायते ॥ ५९.१ ॥

Agastya said: “Now, O king, I shall explain the means that prevents obstacles; listen to me—by which, even when an act has been properly performed, no impediment arises.”

Verse 2

चतुर्थ्यां फाल्गुने मासि ग्रहीतव्यं व्रतं त्विदम् । नक्ताहारेण राजेन्द्र तिलान्नं पारणं स्मृतम् । तदेवाग्नौ तु होतव्यं ब्राह्मणाय च तद्भवेत् ॥ ५९.२ ॥

“On the fourth (lunar day) in the month of Phālguna, this observance is to be undertaken. O king, with a regimen of taking food at night, the prescribed concluding meal (pāraṇa) is sesame-rice. That very offering should then be consigned into the fire, and it should also be given to a brāhmaṇa.”

Verse 3

चातुर्मास्यं व्रतं चैत्तत् कृत्वा वै पञ्च मे तथा । सौवर्णं गजवक्त्रं तु कृत्वा विप्राय दापयेत् ॥ ५९.३ ॥

Having undertaken this Cāturmāsya vow—and likewise (having observed) my five (prescribed observances)—one should have a golden image with an elephant-face made and have it given to a brāhmaṇa.

Verse 4

पायसैः पञ्चभिः पात्रैरुपेतं तु तिलैस्तथा । एवं कृत्वा व्रतं चै तत् सर्वविघ्नैर्विमुच्यते ॥ ५९.४ ॥

With five vessels filled with milk-rice (pāyasa), and likewise accompanied by sesame seeds, having thus performed this vow, one is released from all obstacles.

Verse 5

हयमेधस्य विघ्ने तु संजाते सगरः पुरा । एतदेव चरित्वा तु हयमेधं समापतवान् ॥ ५९.५ ॥

When an obstruction arose in the Aśvamedha sacrifice, Sagara in former times—having performed precisely this observance—brought the horse-sacrifice to completion.

Verse 6

तथा रुद्रेण देवेन त्रिपुरं निघ्नता पुरा । एतदेव कृतं तस्मात् त्रिपुरं तेन पातितम् । मया समुद्रं पिबता एतदेव कृतं व्रतम् ॥ ५९.६ ॥

Likewise, formerly, when the god Rudra was slaying Tripura, this very observance was performed; therefore Tripura was brought down by him. So too by me—when drinking up the ocean—this very vow was undertaken.

Verse 7

अन्यैरपि महीपालैरेतदेव कृतं पुरा । तपोऽर्थिभिर्ज्ञानकृतैर्निर्विघ्नार्थे परंतप ॥ ५९.७ ॥

This very act was formerly performed also by other rulers of the earth, O subduer of foes, by those seeking ascetic discipline and by those devoted to knowledge, for the sake of being free from obstacles.

Verse 8

शूराय धीराय गजाननाय लम्बोदरायैकदंष्ट्राय चैव । एवं पूज्यस्तद्दिने तत्पुनश्च होमं कुर्याद् विघ्नविनाशहेतोः ॥ ५९.८ ॥

To the heroic one, to the steadfast one, to the elephant-faced one, to the pot-bellied one, and also to the single-tusked one—having thus worshipped him on that day, one should again perform a fire-offering (homa) for the purpose of destroying obstacles.

Verse 9

अनेन कृतमात्रेण सर्वविघ्नैर्विमुच्यते । विनायकस्य कृपया कृतकृत्यो नरो भवेत् ॥ ५९.९ ॥

By merely performing this, one is released from all obstacles; through the compassionate favor of Vināyaka, a person may become one whose duties are fulfilled.