This was accepted by the brothers as reasonable. Karthikeya mounted his aerial vehicle the peacock and started on his journey. As soon as he was out of sight Ganesha mounted his mouse and went round Shiva and explained his action as tatamount to going round the world as Shiva himself is the embodiment of the world being its creator. Subramanya after completing his journey came late and was charginced to find that Ganesha had outwitted him.

Such stories though meant to cater to the vulgar fancies, show how much backing Ganesha is getting so as to get an edge over his brother in the Hindu Pantheon. Karthikeya wielded a lance and fought the enemies of mankind whereas Ganesha wielded a style and acted as a scribe to Krishna Badarayana (Vedavyasa) and preserved the sacred teachings of Hindus for the benefit of posterity, according to puranic accounts.