Veda Vyaasa and Lord Ganesha
Veda Vyaasa was a great sage. He had a sharp brain and vast imagination. He thought of composing the Mahabharata, the great story of the Kauravas and the Paandavas. But it was an immense task. He wanted someone to take down his dictation. Whom was he to approach?
He meditated on Lord Brahma, the creator of the Universe, Lord Brahma, pleased with his prayer, appeared before him. Vyaasa prayed to him, “Revered Sir, I am thinking of writing the Mahabharata. I want someone to help me in writing it down.” Brahma answered, “My dear son, Lord Ganesha is the only one who can write it out for you. Pray to him.” So Vyaasa meditated on Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha appeared before him. Vyaasa said, “Lord, may I seek your help? I want you to take down the Mahabharata as dictated by me. None can do it better than you. So kindly help me.” “Most gladly I shall be your scribe,” said Ganesha, “But on one condition. At no point should my pen stop writing. Your dictation should be continuous.
You should not halt at any stage.” This was a great challenge for Vyaasa. But he did not lose heart. After a moment’s thought he said, “All right, I agree to your condition. But I too have a condition to make – That you will not write down anything unless you understand its meaning fully.” Lord Ganesha agreed to this. He had a keen intellect that could readily grasp the meaning of whatever he heard. So the Marathon began. Vyaasa would reel off verse after splendid verse and Ganesha would write it all down at the same time. Both enjoyed the task. But Vyaasa found a difficulty. Now and then he had to pause to choose proper words for a stanza. But Ganesha would not permit him any break in the dictation.
Vyaasa found a way out. Whenever he wanted a pause, he would compose an intricate verse. Its meaning could be understood only when studied carefully. Even the wise Ganesha needed some time to get at the full meaning of the verse. So he would stop writing and think. Meanwhile Vyaasa could get his next verses ready in mind for dictation. Thus was produced the great Mahabharatha Which continues to delight young and old even today. It is the great epic of our India.
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