भद्रा वापि सुभद्रा या वयस्या सा नदी पुरा । सहायमकरोन्मार्गे साक्षात्श्रीरूपधारिणी
Bhadrā, or Subhadrā, who was once her companion, that river, took the path as an assistant, manifesting the form of Śrī herself.
तयोस्तुसंगमः पुण्यः सागरस्योत्तरे तटे । तत्र तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा मृष्टं वारि ददाति यः
The union of the two is auspicious, on the northern shore of the ocean. At that holy place, whoever bathes and offers pure water—
नमस्कृत्य वराहाय वारुणं स्थानमाप्नुयात् । प्रविश्य भगवान्विष्णुस्तेन मार्गेण सागरम्
By bowing to Varaha, one attains the abode of Varuna; entering by that path, the blessed Vishnu entered the ocean.
जित्वा वै दानवान्सर्वान्देवानां परिपंथिनः । देवो यज्ञवराहश्च संक्षोभ्य मकरालयम् । क्रीडित्वा सुचिरं कालं कर्दमालेन निर्ययौ
Having conquered all the Danavas, the obstacles of the gods, the god Yajna-Varaha, after agitating the abode of the Makara, played there for a long time and then emerged from the mire.
पार्वत्युवाच। देव यज्ञवराहस्य साभ्रमत्यां प्रवेशनम् । निर्गमं कर्दमालेन ब्रूहि त्वं मम विस्तरात्
Parvati said: O god, tell me in detail about the entry of Yajna-Varaha into the clouded region and his emergence from the mire.
महादेव उवाच। अंतर्भू क्रीडितमिदं वराहस्य हरेः पुरा । तत्सर्वं कथयिष्यामि शृणु त्वं नगनंदिनि
Mahadeva said: Long ago, Varaha Hari played within the earth; I will tell you all of this, listen, O daughter of the mountain.
योऽयं वै भगवान्साक्षाद्धृतवान्सूकरं वपुः । देवानां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थं रूपं धृत्वा सुरेश्वरः
That blessed Lord, who directly assumed the form of a boar, took on that form for the accomplishment of the gods' purpose, O lord of the gods.
धृत्वा वै पृथिवीं देवीं निर्गतः कर्दमालयम् । तत्र तीर्थं महज्जातं वराहाख्यं तु सुंदरि
Having lifted the goddess Earth, he emerged from the mire; there, a great sacred place called Varaha arose, O beautiful one.
तत्र स्नाति नरो यस्तु मुक्तिभाक्स न संशयः । अत्र श्राद्धं प्रकुर्वीत पितॄणां मुक्तिहेतवे । विमुक्तस्तैः समं लोकं प्रयाति सुखदं महत्
Whoever bathes there, without doubt attains liberation; here, one should perform the shraddha for the sake of the ancestors' liberation; released, he goes to a great and blissful world together with them.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्साहस्र्यां संहितायामुत्तर। खंडे वाराहतीर्थंनामैकोनसप्तत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred and sixty-ninth chapter, named Varaha-tirtha, in the Uttara Khanda of the glorious Padma Mahapurana, in the compilation of fifty-five thousand verses.
महादेव उवाच। शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि व्रतं त्रैलोक्यदुर्लभम् । यं श्रुत्वा मुच्यते लोको ब्रह्महत्यादिपातकात्
Mahadeva said: Listen, O goddess, I will tell you of a vow rare even in the three worlds; by hearing it, people are freed from the sin of killing a Brahmin and other grave offenses.
उत्पतिः स्वप्रकाशस्य भक्तानां सुखहेतवे । तिथिर्वापि समासो वै संजातः पुण्यकारकः
The manifestation of the self-luminous one arose for the happiness of devotees; whether as a lunar day or a month, it came into being as a bringer of merit.
यस्य नाम गृणन्देवि मुक्तिं लभति शाश्वतीम् । स एव परमात्मा च कारणानां च कारणम्
O goddess, by uttering his name, one attains eternal liberation; he is the supreme self and the cause of all causes.
विश्वात्मा विश्वरूपी च सर्वेषां भगवान्प्रभुः । द्वादशार्का धृता येन नृसिंहेन महात्मना । स एव प्रकटीजातो भक्तानां शमभीप्सया
He is the soul of the universe, of universal form, the blessed Lord of all; by whom the twelve suns were sustained, by the great-souled Narasimha; he indeed appeared openly, desiring the peace of devotees.
पार्वत्युवाच। अवतारा ह्यसंख्याताः कथिताः सुरसत्तम । नृसिंहाख्यं परं धाम वद विश्वेश्वर प्रभो । येन विज्ञानमात्रेण सुख लोकमवाप्नुयात्
Parvati said: O best of the gods, countless incarnations have been described; tell me, O Lord of the universe, about the supreme abode called Narasimha, by knowing which one attains a happy world merely through understanding.
महादेव उवाच। हिरण्यकशिपुं हत्वा देवदेवं जगद्गुरुम् । सुखासीनं तदुत्संगे स्थितो वचनमब्रवीत्
Mahadeva said: Having slain Hiranyakashipu, the god of gods, the teacher of the world, sat happily with him on his lap and spoke these words.
प्रह्लादो ज्ञानिनां श्रेष्ठः पितॄहंतारमुत्तमम्
Prahlada, the best among the wise, the foremost slayer of his father.
प्रह्लाद उवाच। नमस्ते भगवन्विष्णो नृसिंहाद्भुतरूपिणे । त्वद्भक्तोहं सुरश्रेष्ठ त्वां पृच्छामि च तत्वतः
Prahlada said: O blessed Vishnu, Narasimha, wondrous in form, I bow to you; I am your devotee, O best of the gods, and I ask you truly.
स्वामिंस्त्वयि ममाभिन्ना भक्तिर्जाता ह्यनेकधा । कथं तेऽहं प्रियो जातः कारणं वद मे प्रभो
Lord, in you my devotion has arisen in many ways; tell me, O master, how I have become dear to you, what is the reason.
नृसिंह उवाच। कथयामि महाप्राज्ञ शृणुष्वैकाग्रमानसः । भक्तेर्यत्कारणं वत्स प्रियत्वस्य च यत्पुनः
Narasimha said: I will tell you, O greatly wise one; listen with focused mind to the cause of devotion, my child, and again, the cause of dearness.
पुरा कस्य द्विजस्यापि जातस्त्वं नाप्यधीतवान् । नाम्ना तु वसुदेवो हि वेश्यायामति लंपटः
In a former birth, you were not born to any Brahmin, nor did you study; by name, you were Vasudeva, exceedingly lustful, born to a courtesan.
तस्मिन्जन्मनि नैवं च चकार सुकृतं कियत् । भुक्त्वा मधु घृतं चैव वेश्यासंगमलालसः
In that life, you did not perform even a little virtuous deed; indulging in honey and ghee, you were eager for union with courtesans.
मद्व्रतस्य प्रभावेन भक्तिर्जाता तवानघ । प्रह्लादोवाच। विस्तराद्वद देवेश कस्य पुत्रस्य किं व्रतम्
By the power of my vow, devotion arose in you, O sinless one. Prahlada said: O Lord of the gods, tell in detail—whose son, and what vow was it?
वेश्यायां वर्तमानेन कथंचिद्धि कृतं मया । ममोपरि कृपां कृत्वा सर्वं कथय सांप्रतम्
While living with a courtesan, I somehow performed it; having shown your compassion to me, tell me everything now.
नृसिंह उवाच। सृष्ट्यर्थं तु पुरा ब्रह्मा चक्रे ह्येतदनुत्तमम् । मद्व्रतस्य प्रभावेन निर्मितं सचराचरम्
Nṛsiṃha said: Formerly, for the purpose of creation, Brahma made this supreme vow; by the power of my vow, all moving and unmoving beings were created.
ईश्वरेण व्रतं चीर्णं वधार्थं त्रिपुरस्यच । व्रतस्यास्यप्रभावेन त्रिपुरस्तु निपातितः
The Lord performed the vow for the destruction of Tripura; by the power of this vow, Tripura was cast down.
अन्यैश्च बहुभिर्देवैरृषिभिश्च पुरातनैः । राजभिश्च महाप्राज्ञैर्विहितं व्रतमुत्तमम्
This excellent vow was also undertaken by many other ancient gods, sages, and great wise kings.
व्रतस्यास्य प्रभावेन सर्वे सिद्धिमवाप्नुयुः । मम ते वै प्रिया जाता दिवि भोगाननेकशः
By the power of this vow, all attain success; in heaven, many enjoyments have become dear to you through me.
भुक्त्वा मयि विलीनास्तु प्रह्लाद त्वं विशस्व माम् । कार्यार्थमवतारस्ते मच्छरीरत्पृथग्यतः
Having enjoyed them, they merge in me; Prahlada, enter into me. For the sake of duty, your descent is separate from my body.
न तेषां पुनरावृत्तिर्महाकल्पशतैरपि । दरिद्रो लभते लक्ष्मीं धनदस्य च यादृशी
There is no return for them, even after hundreds of great aeons; a poor man obtains wealth like that of Kubera.