Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 7
स्वर्गमोक्षौ परित्यज्य तत्कस्मान्मर्त्य इष्यते । येनासौ प्रार्थ्यते मर्त्यैर्मर्त्यदो गणनायकः
svargamokṣau parityajya tatkasmānmartya iṣyate | yenāsau prārthyate martyairmartyado gaṇanāyakaḥ
Setelah mengetepikan syurga dan moksha, mengapa keadaan sebagai insan fana diingini? Kerana melalui keadaan fana itulah para manusia memohon kepada Gaṇanāyaka—pemimpin para gaṇa, pemberi anugerah duniawi kepada insan.
Ṛṣayaḥ (questioning Sūta)
Type: temple
Scene: A contemplative scene: mortals stand before Gaṇanāyaka with folded hands, offering modaka and durvā; behind them, symbolic gates labeled ‘Svarga’ and ‘Mokṣa’ are set aside, showing their focus on immediate petitions; Gaṇeśa radiates compassionate authority.
FAQs
Human birth is valued because it enables deliberate worship and prayer, through which divine grace grants both worldly support and spiritual progress.
The verse points toward a kṣetra where Gaṇanāyaka is specially present; the exact site is asked about explicitly in the next verse.
Prayer/entreaty (prārthanā) to Gaṇanāyaka is implied; no specific vow or offering is detailed here.