How does Chapter 1 describe Lord Ganesha and his role in helping devotees?

Chapter 1 provides a detailed invocation to Lord Ganesha, describing him with various epithets. He is called the curved-trunk Heramba, the Lord of fourteen types of knowledge, and Lambodar (large-bellied) because the fourteen worlds reside in his belly. His primary role, as detailed in Chapter 1, is to be the destroyer of obstacles. He holds a bright axe to destroy the obstacles of his devotees, and the text affirms that if he looks upon a devotee, poverty will flee. He is seen as the boat to cross the ocean of worldly existence and a flame of knowledge in the darkness of ignorance.