2 Ganesha Green background
Then the King invited other kings and queens, his own friends, the city chiefs, and the all the citizens to witness the consecration of his own son, Hemakanta. After the King worshipped Ganesha and Shiva, he then asked for his mother’s blessings, and performed his own renunciation ceremony. He then refreshed the Brahmins with fruit juices and completed his son’s consecration to the accompaniment of Vedic hymns. Somakanta then made the following statement to his three principal advisors”. The King said, “Here is my son, ministers. Be very careful. He is in your hands alone. In the same way as those who are skilled in politics carry out my orders, they too, including the chiefs of the cities, should also obey his command”. Thus ends the third chapter of Upasana Khanda of the glorious Ganesha Purana called “Description of Conduct”. Chapter 4 Entering the City Suta Gosvami said, “When the ceremony began, the King honored the Brahmins by giving away jewels, pearls, coral and numerous wonderful cows. To show his gratitude, he also gave elephants, horses, gold, and fine clothes. These clothes came from various regions and were woven with pure gold thread.
To the other kings, queens, and village leaders, he gave a considerable amount of clothes of variegated colors. To his dependants and those of good character, he gave according to what they deserved. Then to his ministers he gave large amounts of gold and authority over many villages. After he gave away a portion of his immense wealth in charity, feeling grief and pain, and exceedingly impure, the King left for the forest. Once the King had departed, a great cry of distress arose among the people. Everyone instantly abandoned their duties. All of them, including his ministers, wife, son, and friends, followed the King. When he left the kingdom, he stumbled and fell on the ground. He then got up, tried to run away from them, and began to cry. The King had only gone two miles from the city but became very tired. The distressed ministers and towns-people caught up and surrounded him. Taking shelter of a nearby lake of cool water surrounded by many trees, the King spoke to all the ministers, town’s people and his kinsmen”. King Somakanta said, “Please forgive all the offences I have committed against you during my long reign.
With all sincerity, I offer my deepest respects. Have compassion on my son and myself too, who has become this way because of fate. Please do not lose affection for me. Everyone who has come, including the women and elderly, must go back to the city now. You are being protected by my son, so you will be free from all worries. All of you bid me farewell, for I am resolved to go to the forest. When you have gone back to the city, I will feel much better. All of you kindly do this great favor for me. Although I want to leave this world behind and am in great distress, I am unable to speak harshly to you. I have acquired this karmic reaction due to misdeeds from other lifetimes, so it is for the benefit of good people, such as your selves, that I have separated myself from the kingdom. Since I am oozing from leprosy, what else can I do? Each person experiences his own fate”. Suta said, “After they had heard his wishes, the King’s friends were speechless. Some who were very distressed struck their heads with the palms of their hands. The learned consoled each other by relaying stories of previous great kings. Others, having realized the situation at hand, were like yogis, having analyzed the true nature of the world. Then some, who were bold, having calmly held back their own sorrow, spoke to the distressed Somakanta, who was longing to leave for the forest”.