43 - The Breaking of the trunk of Ganesha

Narayana said - On hearing the words of Ganesha, the wise Parashurama holding the battle axe in his hand tried to force his entry into the house. Finding Parashurama so behaving, Ganesha got up at once and making great effort tried to stop Parashurama, making several requests. 

But Parashurama challenged him again and again, as a result of which a controversy developed besides the scuffle between the two. Bhrgu at that point of time intended to attack Ganesha with battle-axe which created panic in the court. Thereafter Karttikeya said, "O brother, why are you attacking with this infallible weapon on the son of the teacher. The son of the teacher cannot be killed like the teacher himself. 

Wielding the battle-axe Parashurama was enraged and his eyes became red like the red lotus. Inspite of that, Ganes'a stopped him and said; You better return." But Parashurama getting enraged challenged Ganesha again. Finding thus humiliated Brahmana rushed forward and stood before Parashurama. 

Ganesha became attentive citing dharma as the witness. Ganesha who had over-powered his anger, again tried to convince Parashurama again and again and said, "O lord you go back." Without the permission of the lord you don’t have the strength to enter the inner apartment. 

You are my brother in relation to the bestowing of knowledge to you Shiva. You are a guest and are the dear pupil of the lord. Therefore, I am tolerating all your misbehaviour.

О Brahmana, I am neither Kartavirya nor any petty king, killed by you in the battle-field. Evidently you are not aware of the birth of the son of the ord. 

О Brahmana you are a guest, you wait for a while; go back and I shall accompany you to Shiva in a moment. 

Narayana said - On hearing the words of Ganesha, Bhrugu laughed at him again and again and bowing before Hari and Shiva in his mind he resolved to make use of the battle-axe. 

Ganesha realised that Paras’hurama intends to attack him with battle-axe. Therefore, citing dharma as his witness, he extended his trunk to crores of yojanas in length and encircling Parashurama, he lifted him up like Garuda lifting a serpent. Thus entwining Parashurama in his trunk, he removed Parashurama around all the seven continents, the mountains, Meru and all the oceans in a moment. 

Thereafter, Ganesha who destroys the arrogance, making Parashurama helpless in feet as Ganesha again took him round and round the globe. well as arm, all his limbs started trembling and Ganesha gain took him round and the globe.

Thereafter Ganes'a carried Paras’hurama round the earth, Bhuloka, Bhuvarloka, Suvarloka, Janoloka and Tapoloka, playfully. After taking him round these places, then he carried him to Satyaloka, Brahmaloka, Dhruvaloka, Gauriloka and Shivaloka. Thereafter showing him round the globe he took him round all the oceans. 

He then threw out all the aquatic animals like crocodiles and others and threw him in the oceanic water. 

Parashurama started floating in the oceanic water, where he was about to die but he again picked him up from there and moving him round and round, the globe, he lifted him up to Vaikunt ha and produced him before lord Vishnu and Lakshmi. 

Thus Ganesha, the lord of the yogis with the application of illusion extending his trunk carried him to Goloka, where the river Viraja was flowing. He then carried him through Vrundavana, Himalaya having a hundred peaks, Rasamandala and produced him before lord Krishna surrounded by the cowherds and cowherdesses. He was having two arms and holding a flute in his hands, wearing a serene smile on the face. He was seated on a gem studded lion-throne and was adorned with all the ornaments, bearing the lustre of crores of suns, resting his head on the breasts of Radha. 

Having an audience with lord Krishna he bowed in reverence to him again and again and then he extended his trunk. Taking Parashurama round and round he produced him before lord Krishna, as a result of which Parashurama was relieved of all the sins committed by him, because an audience with the lord destroys all the sins. 

The result that emerged from sin can never be destroyed without facing the same. Parashurama had already faced the result of some of his misdeeds and the result of the remaining sins vanished with the audience with lord Krishna. He, Therefore, regained consciousness in a moment and at once he reached the earth and was relieved of the miseries caused to him by Ganesha. 

Thereafter, Parashurama adored the inaccessible kavacha bestowed to him by his teacher, besides the stotra of lord Krishna reciting the name of lord Shiva who happens to be the teacher of the universe. 

О sage, thereafter he thought of using the infallible battle-axe which was like Shiva and dazzling like the shine of the mid-day sun of the summer season. 

Ganapati on his part witnessed the weapon which was granted by Shiva himself to Parashurama and face the attack on the left tusks. He did not make it infractuous. 

The battle-axe shot by Parashurama severed the left tusk of Ganapati with the force of Mahadeva and again went back to Parashurama. 

Finding this the gods in the sky, Virabhadra, Karttikeya and other attendants of Shiva beside Kshetra-palas felt panicky. 

Like the mountain of crystal of red ochre, the tusk soaked in blood making a thundering sound fell on the ground. 

О dear one the deafening sound created by its fall made the earth to shake and the dwellers of Kailasha fainted with panic in a moment. 

Thereafter Shiva, the lord of the universe woke up with Parvati and came out of the chamber. 

О sage, they saw Ganesha with a broken tusk, he had already over-come the anger and was smiling with shyness. 

Parvati at once asked Skanda, "O son what was happened?" He narrated the entire story to Parvati. At that point of time Durga was enraged and she started crying again and again feeling merciful carrying her son in her lap. 

Because of grief and fear she addressed lord Shiva. The chaste lady meekly spoke to her husband who always removed the miseries of his devotees.