Labha Chaturthi Vrat Katha

Vasishtha Muni said to King Dasaratha, "O King! The Kartika Shukla Chaturthi is the provider of all types of successes (Siddhis). O Blessed One! Listen carefully to the history and greatness related to this fast.

In ancient times, there was an extremely valorous king named Sudhanwa. He was a very ethical, religious king proficient in weapon science. King Sudhanwa always spoke the truth, worshipped Brahmins and guests, and was respected by the virtuous. King Sudhanwa had a religious wife named Klavati. Kalavati was also extremely devoted to her husband and always followed religious conduct. That supreme valorous King Sudhanwa, conquering the entire world, was protecting the earth religiously.

King Sudhanwa's splendor was like Lord Kubera himself. All ministers, etc., always remained under him. But by divine coincidence, when only half his age had passed, the king became afflicted with leprosy (Kushtha Roga). Just as there is pain when struck with a spear, similarly the king began to have pain. The king consumed various types of medicines, but he got no benefit. Subsequently, various types of tantra-mantra and charms (totke), etc., were used, yet there was no benefit. Thereafter, various types of rituals were performed by Brahmins through Vedic mantras, but there was not even a bit of effect on the king's disease.

King Sudhanwa performed actions like bathing, donation, and libation (Tarpana) in various pilgrimages, but his disease increased even more. Being so afflicted, the king became detached toward life and, handing over the burden of his kingdom to the secretaries, said, 'Protect and nourish my kingdom until my return.' Subsequently, providing consolation to his subjects, along with his religious wife, the king departed toward the forest.

While remembering Lord Ganesha, the king began to wander everywhere in the forest. Then fortunately, suddenly the king had the vision of Rishi Pulastya in the forest. Pulastya Muni is the son of Lord Brahma who has been described as a Prajapati. The king along with his wife saluted the sage with devotion.

Saluting, King Sudhanwa said to Muni Pulastya, 'O Best among Sages! It is not known what meritorious deeds of my previous births have arisen that I have obtained your vision. By obtaining your vision, my birth, my parents, and lineage, etc., have all become blessed.'

Hearing the king's words, Pulastya Muni asked, 'O King! You are a supreme knower of politics. Therefore, for what purpose have you come to this forest?' Questioning thus, the sage provided a seat to the king in the shade of a tree and himself also sat down.

King Sudhanwa saluted the sage and said, 'O Great Yogi! You are all-knowing and all-knower; please tell me this, I was ruling religiously continuously. I do not know as a result of what sin of my previous birth I am having to suffer this leprosy.'

Vasishtha ji said to King Dasaratha, "Hearing the pathetic words of Sudhanwa and seeing him in grave pain, Mahamuni Pulastya said, 'O Vile Human! Being ignorant of the sin committed in this birth, you have become afflicted with leprosy. O King! In your kingdom, the great and excellent Ganeshwara fast has been destroyed. This Chaturthi fast is the provider of various types of excellent successes (Siddhis). The Chaturthi fast is the universally accepted means for obtaining the four Purusharthas—Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. For this reason, this Chaturthi is considered Varada (boon-bestower) and Sankata (remover of troubles). Before performing all types of fasts, if in the beginning this fast is not observed, then all other auspicious deeds become unsuccessful.'

Muni Pulastya said, 'O King Sudhanwa! The king obtains the fruit of the auspicious and inauspicious deeds performed by the subjects of all varnas in the kingdom; therefore you have obtained this leprosy. Even after your death, you will obtain hell and you will undoubtedly become turned away from the four Purusharthas.'

Hearing the sage's words, requesting with folded hands and an anxious mind, the king said to the sage, 'O Lord! You are the knower of all elements. Your words are undoubtedly of the form of truth. But I do not know the procedure of this fast. Therefore, O Sage! Being kind, please tell me what this fast is like? At what time is it performed and who should be worshipped in this fast? O Lord! Please be kind enough to tell me the method for the destruction of my leprosy. I myself will perform atonement for the Chaturthi fast which has disappeared in my kingdom.'

Upon the king making such a humble request, Pulastya Muni became extremely pleased and said to King Sudhanwa, 'You chant the mantra "Ganeshaaya Namah." The sin committed in ignorance can be destroyed through atonement. Therefore, you observe this fast along with all humans. O King! By this atonement, surely your sin will be pacified and you will become extremely handsome.' Saying this, Pulastya Muni described various stories related to the fast before the king, by hearing which the king was extremely pleased. Subsequently, saluting repeatedly, he thanked the sage and said, 'O Great-minded One! My life is blessed that I received the opportunity to hear the greatness of this fast. O Best of Sages! Now describe the form of Shri Ganesha. Knowing His form, I will meditate and worship Him with devotion.'

Hearing this, Rishi Pulastya, the disciple of Lord Ganesha, said, 'O Sudhanwa! In former times, with the desire for yogic peace, while performing various types of yoga, I tried to conquer the mind with calmness (Shama) and self-control (Dama), but I did not obtain peace. Subsequently, I went to the refuge of Lord Shiva. Saluting Lord Shiva, I asked Him the excellent yoga practice.

Lord Shiva said, 'O Sage! You consider Ganesha as of the form of yogic peace. He is both devoid of mind and speech and also endowed with mind and speech. You perform His sadhana. The mind-and-speech-filled form of Ganesha ji is of the Savikalpa (Samprajnata) Samadhi. Therefore, consider Him as of the Gakara letter and observe in the Veda. That form of Ganesha ji which is devoid of mind and speech, consider it of the Nirvikalpa (Asamprajnata) Samadhi and of the Nakara letter. By the union of these two words, the word Gana is formed, whose master is Shri Ganesha ji and who can be obtained through yogic peace. Therefore, you control the mind and perform the sadhana of Lord Ganesha.' Saying thus, Lord Shiva became silent and I, saluting Him, went to the forest for sadhana. Thinking of Him through the eight-letter mantra of Lord Ganesha, I pacified all the states of the Chitta and pleased Lord Ganesha. Subsequently, in a short time, I obtained self-peace. But I continued to chant that king-of-mantras (Mantraraja) continuously.

After twenty-one years passed, Lord Ganesha, devoted to His devotees, appeared before me. Obtaining His meritorious vision, I saluted Him and performed formal worship and praised Him with the divine eight-letter mantra. Being pleased by the praise, Ganapati made me His devotee and went to Swanandapur. Since then, I am continuously worshipping those Ganapati.'

Muni Vasishtha says, 'O Maharaja Dasaratha! Saying this, Pulastya Muni, the form of mercy, provided the eight-letter Ganesha mantra to King Sudhanwa and, providing the mantra, the sage disappeared from there. Subsequently, King Sudhanwa observed this excellent fast along with the subjects. Meditating on Ganesha ji on the Kartika Shukla Paksha Chaturthi, he completed the fast and on the Panchami date, he formally broke the fast. The king pleased the Brahmins by giving donations and provided food to everyone. By the meritorious fruit of that fast, the king became free from leprosy and his beauty became like Kamadeva. Among his subjects, all those childless, diseased, and poor humans, their troubles were removed and all became happy.

Subsequently, the king propagated this fast faithfully on the entire world, by the influence of which all humans began to fast on the Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha Chaturthi dates. As a result of this merit-providing fast, all people became endowed with many types of happiness and began to lead a life of joy.

In the course of time, King Sudhanwa handed over the royal throne to his son and himself became absorbed in the sadhana of Lord Ganesha with a concentrated mind. Finally, the king, being established in Swananda, became Brahmabhuta, i.e., merged into Brahman. All the humans in his kingdom also became inhabitants of Swananda.

O Best of Kings! In this way, I have described this fast, which provides all successes and prosperity, before you. Now listen to another greatness related to this fast. O King! In the city named Mahishmati, a sinful Chandala (outcaste) resided. On the day of the Chaturthi date of the Kartika month, that Chandala went to the forest. In the forest, a lion went after him. To protect his life from the lion, that sinful Chandala climbed a tree. That lion also stood under the tree in expectation of his descending, due to which that Chandala kept a vigil the whole night. O King! At that very time, a snake arrived in the forest and climbed that tree. Seeing that snake, the Chandala, becoming terrified, fell down from the tree. The lion standing below ate him on the Panchami day. After death, that great sinful Chandala, riding on a celestial vehicle, went to Lord Ganesha's Swanandapur.

In ignorance alone, that Chandala had observed the Kartika Shukla Chaturthi fast because he had to remain without food in compulsion. But from that alone, his fast became successful. Therefore, by the merit of that fast, he attained Ganesha ji and became Brahmabhuta. O King! Similarly, many humans, by observing the fast on that day, were merged into Brahman.'

Mahamuni Vasishtha ji said to King Dasaratha, 'I have described the glory of the Chaturthi of the Shukla Paksha of the Kartika month before you. Therefore, O Best of Kings! The one who reads or hears this glory will obtain success in all actions and, obtaining the happiness of sons, grandsons, etc. will become dear to Lord Ganesha.'

|| Thus ends the Kartika Shukla Chaturthi Mahatmya described in Shri Mudgala Purana ||